Hans Chrisitian Holte
steps down
NAV Director Holte is stepping down after five years following critical findings from the Office of the Auditor General. Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng states in that NAV has provided incorrect information to both the ministry and the Auditor General, and describes the situation as serious.
November 11, 2025 | NORWEGIAN POLITICS
Hans Christian Holte, image from NAV
After five years as the director of NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), Hans Christian Holte is stepping down. This follows findings from the Office of the Auditor General, which identified critical shortcomings in invoice control. Furthermore, Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng writes in a press release that NAV provided incorrect information to both the Ministry and the Office of the Auditor General. Several cases show that internal control within the directorate has not been sufficient. “Providing incorrect information to the Ministry and the Auditor General is serious. This is the responsibility of the top leader. The result of the conversations we have had is that Hans Christian Holte is stepping down as director now.”
Hans Christian Holte assumed the role of director in 2020. During these years, NAV has faced criticism in several areas, including administration, regulatory enforcement, the use of external service providers, and particularly regarding the limited effectiveness of employment measures intended to help people receiving disability benefits return to work. Holte tells NRK today that NAV has not given incorrect information intentionally, which in that case would have been criminal.
On August 14 this year, news emerged of a budget overrun in NAV, leading to reductions in employment measures. Holte had lost control of NAV’s budget halfway through the year. At that time, Tonje Brenna was Minister of Labour and Inclusion. Brenna stated that this was new information to her, but on August 25, VG reported that she had been aware of it before the summer break, read more here. The NAV administration is ultimately the responsibility of the minister. If Stenseng had not taken over for Brenna, the situation would have looked serious for the minister in charge. It is therefore natural to think that this is the reason Brenna was removed from the ministerial post without being given a new one.
Today, the new minister has acted following the Auditor General’s report, which many consider overdue. Stenseng states that NAV users have not been affected by these issues. This contrasts with testimonies in the Facebook group AAP-Aksjonen, which has nearly 40,000 members. Users report financial strain due to slow case processing, limited availability of caseworkers, and inconsistent routines between local offices and the payment administration. It appears the government still does not have a full understanding of the seriousness of the situation in NAV, nor the broader societal consequences that follow.
SOURCES
Office of the Auditor General (Riksrevisjonen)
“NAV: Lack of Control Before Payments for Orthopedic Equipment”Government of Norway (Regjeringen)
Press Release: “Hans Christian Holte Steps Down as NAV Director”
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