The government is investigating the abolition of the "elephant graveyard" for agency heads

Today's system sticks in the eyes, the minister believes. Therefore, an investigation is now being added which, among other things, will come up with proposals on how the elephant cemetery can be abolished and replaced with severance pay.

Today, it is not possible to dismiss a general manager prematurely.

A head of an authority is placed at the Government Office if the government decides that the person should not remain in his post or if the authority is closed down. They will remain there with full salary until the appointment expires.

Heads of authorities are normally employed for six years with the possibility of a three-year extension. If a director-general or governor is transferred early during that period, there may be several years of employment with unclear duties.

Something that is less known is that the former heads of authorities can also take out a parachute in two years when the time in the elephant cemetery is over. Those who have turned 61 and have worked for a total of six years may instead be entitled to an income guarantee for four years. The government also wants the investigator to review this.

Today, eight former agency heads are employed in the Government Offices, two of whom are placed there because their agencies were wound up. The total salary amount is around 13 million a year.

Those who have the longest remaining in their appointments are former Sida head Jakob Granit and former head of the Financial Supervisory Authority Daniel Barr, both of whom can continue to work until well into 2029 and have monthly salaries of more than SEK 140,000.

During the period 2011–2025, around 50 heads of authorities have been transferred. There will be an average of about three per year regardless of government.

The investigation must be completed by April 5, 2027 at the latest.