Federal Employees Were Paid $9.5 Billion Not to Work in 2025 Under DOGE Effort

The Department of Government Efficiency reported that federal employees received $9.5 billion in paid administrative leave during 2025, a 435 percent increase from the prior year. The rise occurred as the department implemented workforce reduction measures. Paid administrative leave is typically granted when employees are temporarily removed from their positions while remaining on the payroll.

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