skeleton crew

By metaphor, with the crew as a corporate body being bare bones rather than adequately fleshed out.

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

skeleton crew (plural skeleton crews)

1. (idiomatic) The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shutdown, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
   • 2022 November 4, Kate Conger, Ryan Mac, Mike Isaac, “Confusion and Frustration Reign as Elon Musk Cuts Half of Twitter’s Staff”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     The internet technology team — which is partly responsible for keeping the site functioning — became “a skeleton crew,” two people said.

• short-staffed