A House committee has approved a bill to slash the federal civilian workforce by 10 percent over the next three years.
 
On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed the legislation 23-14, which aims to reach its goal by Sept. 30, 2014.

The bill would allow government agencies to hire only one new employee for every three who retire. It's projected to save taxpayers $139 billion over 10 years.

Currently, there are 1.8 million civilians employed with the federal government.

Republicans argue the federal workforce is growing too large, something they say the nation can no longer afford.