Paid Leave Costs Skyrocketed Under DOGE’s Workforce Buyout Program

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The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the federal government paid $9.5 billion in 2025 to employees who were not working — a surge driven largely by a controversial workforce buyout program launched under the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.

According to the GAO, $6.7 billion of that total came from DOGE’s “Deferred Waiver” initiative, a program created during Elon Musk’s tenure leading the department. The effort was marketed as a cost‑cutting strategy: employees received months of paid leave if they agreed to voluntarily leave their positions.

Nearly 140,000 federal workers accepted the offer after receiving emails encouraging them to participate.

The impact was immediate. Federal agencies reported a 435% increase in paid administrative leave compared to 2023 — a spike that watchdogs say contradicts the department’s promise of long‑term savings.

The White House has defended the program, arguing that upfront costs would be offset by reduced payroll obligations in future years. But budget analysts and labor experts say the math doesn’t add up, and they are pressing for clearer explanations.

The GAO also warned that the data may be incomplete and said it will conduct further reviews to determine the full financial impact.