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DOGE pays $9.5B in leave

The gist

The Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE.
About 70% of that year's paid leave spending came from the cost-cutting program.

How it unfolded

  1. 2025The Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work under the DOGE program, per the GAO.
  2. 2025About 70% of 2025 paid administrative leave spending came from the DOGE program, according to the GAO.
  3. 2025DOGE's deferred-resignation push led to a 435% increase in paid administrative leave.

Sources

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