US government paid federal employees $9.5bn not to work amid Doge cuts, GAO finds
Paid administrative leave surged 435% from 2023 to 2025 as the Trump administration sought to shrink the federal workforce.
The US government spent $9.5 billion in 2025 on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of efforts by the "department of government efficiency" (Doge), led by Elon Musk, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Tuesday. The GAO found that federal agencies' use of paid administrative leave rose 435% from 2023 to 2025, costing six times what the government spent in 2023.
The dramatic increase occurred as the Trump administration pursued initiatives to reduce the size of the federal workforce through Doge's efficiency efforts.
Sources
- US government paid federal employees $9.5bn not to work amid Doge cuts – report — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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