Time

Thanks to DOGE, Federal Employees Got Paid Billions to Not Work

ABC News

Federal government paid employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025: Report

tommysantos14

karlykingsley

FEDweek

Opm Director Defends Deferred Resignation Partial Backfilling Of Positions

The Wall Street Journal

Doge Works Lets Keep It Going D5356363

Meryl Kornfield

Brian Allen

Kyle Griffin

Government Executive

Agencies spent nearly $10 billion for feds not to work in 2025

Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5B not to work in 2025

HuffPost

Trump Admin Paid Federal Workers Nearly $10 Billion Not To Work In 2025

The Washington Sun

Trump Is Spending Billions More on Paid Leave for Federal Workers, Watchdog Finds

Federal News Network

Trump administrations DRP cost $6.7B last year, watchdog estimates

NBC News

Trump administration spent $9.5 billion last year on employee leave, driven by DOGE-era cuts

Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan

New Republic

Federal Workers Got Paid Billions Not to Work Thanks to DOGE

The Hill

Federal employees were paid nearly $7B not to work under DOGE effort: GAO

The New York Times

Federal Employees Were Paid $9.5 Billion Not to Work in 2025 Under DOGE Effort

MikeLevin

<h2>Editor's Note</h2>

The Government Accountability Office estimated in a report released Tuesday that the federal government spent about $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave during 2025, with roughly $6.7 billion tied to the deferred resignation program.

The Government Accountability Office estimated in a report released Tuesday that the federal government spent about $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave during 2025, with roughly $6.7 billion tied to the deferred resignation program.

Agencies' use of paid administrative leave rose 435% from 2023 to 2025, and associated salary costs increased sixfold. The watchdog analyzed payroll data from 76 agencies covering about 95% of the civilian federal workforce.

Agencies' use of paid administrative leave rose 435% from 2023 to 2025, and associated salary costs increased sixfold. The watchdog analyzed payroll data from 76 agencies covering about 95% of the civilian federal workforce.

Workdays of reported paid administrative leave grew from about 4 million in 2023 to roughly 21.6 million in 2025. Usage peaked in July 2025 at nearly 3 million workdays, about 2.5 million of which were linked to deferred resignations.

Workdays of reported paid administrative leave grew from about 4 million in 2023 to roughly 21.6 million in 2025. Usage peaked in July 2025 at nearly 3 million workdays, about 2.5 million of which were linked to deferred resignations.

The program, announced in January 2025, was offered to about 2 million federal workers and let those resigning by Sept. 30 keep full pay and benefits. The GAO estimated roughly 144,000 employees were placed on leave through it.

The program, announced in January 2025, was offered to about 2 million federal workers and let those resigning by Sept. 30 keep full pay and benefits. The GAO estimated roughly 144,000 employees were placed on leave through it.

OPM Director Scott Kupor said the $6.7 billion was a one-time expense that accounts for less than 3% of annual federal payroll, and he projected the workforce reduction will save $20 billion a year.

OPM Director Scott Kupor said the $6.7 billion was a one-time expense that accounts for less than 3% of annual federal payroll, and he projected the workforce reduction will save $20 billion a year.

The federal civilian workforce has shrunk about 12% since Trump took office, and the Partnership for Public Service identified more than 20,000 positions backfilled after deferred resignations. GAO said actual leave costs remain unknown.

The federal civilian workforce has shrunk about 12% since Trump took office, and the Partnership for Public Service identified more than 20,000 positions backfilled after deferred resignations. GAO said actual leave costs remain unknown.

Feds Spent $9.5B on Paid Leave in 2025, GAO Says

Feds Spent $9.5B on Paid Leave in 2025, GAO Says

United States of America

Governance

Labor

Feds Spent $9.5B on Paid Leave in 2025, GAO Says

Editor's Note

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