Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signs an executive order setting the maximum number of government staff members at 1453, going into effect on March 31, 2011

The executive order was signed pursuant to the presidential decree on optimising the number of federal officials.

According to the executive order, the government staff will be reduced by 5% in 2011 and 2012 and by 10% in 2013.

At present, the government staff is made up of 49.52% men and 50.48% women, with an average age of 45.