The phrase "unprotected departments" refers to areas or divisions within an organization that lack sufficient support or resources, making them vulnerable to problems or threats. Full definition
If Whitehall achieves the new savings targets of about 3 % on unprotected departments the IFS believes Osborne will have another 12 % left to find from those areas over the next three years, instead of its previous estimate of 15 %. (theguardian.com)
The IFS also challenged Osborne's claim that the government's cuts to unprotected departments averaged 19 % compared with 20 % implied by Labour's plans. (theguardian.com)
«On top of what has happened in this spending review period that would take cuts in unprotected departments to an average of over 30 %. (theguardian.com)