Conceptually I agree, but I think any private sector business with similar (aggregate) productivity or with such budget pressures would act with much more urgency than to attrit 10% of its workforce out over 3-4 years. IMHO a 10% immediate cut and another 10% attrition seems more appropriate. If that were done I'd be fine with 2-3% annual increases for those who remain.
A 10% nibble, guys? You can’t be serious? It took what, maybe a decade to double the fed workforce? Maybe two decades. We could easily lop off 50% and not miss a beat. With that many fewer people interfering with our markets and daily lives, everything would improve immensely.
You sack 10% and they’ll be back on the payroll as consultants the following Monday. You sack 50% and that’s much harder to make happen.