From Fortune · Sasha Rogelberg · · 2m
DOGE's workforce cuts cost $6.7 billion in paid leave
The Trump administration paid federal workers billions to leave their jobs, raising questions about the true cost of shrinking government.
In brief
The Trump administration paid federal workers billions to leave their jobs, raising questions about the true cost of shrinking government. The Department of Government Efficiency's deferred resignation program cost taxpayers six point seven billion dollars in paid salaries while workers sat idle, according to a…
Mass resignations become costly problem
A Government Accountability Office report found federal agencies increased use of administrative leave by four hundred thirty-five percent between two thousand twenty-three and two thousand twenty-five, costing nine point five billion dollars in paid salaries.
DOGE's Fork in the Road offer
In February two thousand twenty-five, the Department of Government Efficiency sent a Fork in the Road email to two million federal workers offering voluntary resignation with full pay and benefits through September that year. Nearly one hundred forty thousand employees accepted.
Six point seven billion tied to DOGE
The Government Accountability Office attributed six point seven billion dollars of the nine point five billion total to the deferred resignation program implemented under the Department of Government Efficiency as part of efforts to cut the federal workforce.
OPM director defends the spending
OPM Director Scott Kupor disputed the report, claiming the six point seven billion one-time expense to remove two hundred seventy thousand employees will generate forty billion dollars per year in savings, a four hundred percent return on investment for taxpayers.
“That 400% return on investment is a massive benefit to the taxpayer.”
Replacement workers less experienced
Partnership for Public Service found agencies backfilling over twenty thousand vacant roles with new employees lacking specialization and institutional knowledge. New hires averaged one point four grades lower on the federal pay scale than departing workers.
Food safety gaps emerge
Job listings for U.S. Department of Agriculture consumer safety inspector positions remained vacant in fifty-four cities between March and August two thousand twenty-five. A forty percent increase in consumer complaints about meat and egg products followed, linked to DOGE-related staffing cuts.
Agencies struggle to serve public
Partnership for Public Service warned the deferred resignation program has made it harder for agencies across government to serve the public. A cyclospora outbreak was linked to cuts in foreign inspection personnel and parasite tracking programs.
“The DRP has made it harder for agencies across the government to serve the public.”
In short
The Department of Government Efficiency's deferred resignation program cost taxpayers six point seven billion dollars in paid salaries while workers sat idle, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
