Denver’s Children’s Affairs, other small offices take big layoff hits

Denver’s Workforce Restructuring: Office of Children’s Affairs Takes Biggest Hit

Denver city officials recently announced a round of layoffs and restructuring that has had a significant impact on various departments and agencies. The Office of Children’s Affairs bore the brunt of the workforce reduction, with approximately a third of its employees losing their jobs. This move comes as the city grapples with a projected $200 million budget shortfall for 2026, prompting Mayor Mike Johnston to implement layoffs.

During an online town hall meeting with city employees, Johnston presented a breakdown of the layoffs across departments. A total of 171 employees were informed that their positions had been eliminated, with an additional 665 vacant positions also being cut. This represents a nearly 8% reduction in the city’s authorized workforce of 11,023 positions. Johnston emphasized that the layoff wave has now concluded.

The layoffs were not evenly distributed across all departments. The Office of Children’s Affairs saw a 39% reduction in its workforce, with 10 employees being laid off and two vacant positions eliminated. The Office of Human Rights and Community Partnerships and the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency also experienced significant reductions in staffing.

Notably, Denver Fire and Denver Police, which consist mainly of uniformed personnel, were largely insulated from the cuts, with less than a 2% decrease in positions due to vacant positions being eliminated. The mayor’s office itself saw a 24% reduction in positions, with three employees being laid off and eight vacant positions cut.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure saw the highest number of layoffs, with 31 employees losing their jobs. In addition, 108 vacant positions were eliminated, resulting in a 9% reduction in the department’s workforce.

This restructuring is part of the city’s efforts to address its budget shortfall and reallocate resources to essential services. The impacts of these layoffs will be felt across various departments, and the city is working to ensure that services are not unduly disrupted. This is a developing story that will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. Stay informed by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.