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Administration news
The gist
A GAO report found the Trump administration spent $9.5 billion on 2025 federal employee leave.
The figure is a sixfold jump from 2023, tied to the DOGE-era buyout program.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025The federal Office of Personnel Management offered the Deferred Resignation Program buyout to federal employees, allowing those who opted in to resign or stop working but still receive pay through Sept. 30, 2025.
- Jul 2025Paid administrative leave peaked, when 2.5 million of the 3 million leave workdays reported that month were due to the DRP.
- Sep 16, 2026A GAO report published Tuesday found the Trump administration spent $9.5 billion on employee administrative leave costs in 2025, a sixfold increase from 2023; use of paid administrative leave increased 435% from 2023 to 2025, with $6.7 billion due to employees who opted into the DRP.