Federal employees paid $9.5 billion not to work in 2025: GAO
Summary
A new government report says the federal government paid workers $9.5 billion in 2025 even though many were not working. This happened as part of a program that encouraged workers to leave, leading to a big drop in federal employees.Key Facts
- The federal government paid $9.5 billion in 2025 to workers who did not work during that time.
- $6.7 billion of this was linked to a program called the deferred resignation program.
- The program asked workers to take a buyout and leave the government while still getting paid until September 2025.
- The number of federal workers decreased by about 216,000 in 2025.
- Around 140,000 workers accepted the buyout offer.
- The program caused a 435% rise in paid administrative leave costs compared to the year before.
- Some government departments have started hiring workers and contractors again to meet needs.
- The Trump administration said the program saved hundreds of billions, but experts question these claims.
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