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Government Accountability Office Report Finds Federal Administrative Leave Costs Rose to $9.5 Billion Amid DOGE Reductions
Just the facts
The independent watchdog report showed that federal agencies' use of paid administrative leave increased by 435 percent between calendar years 2023 and 2025. Approximately $6.7 billion of the total expenditure, representing about 70 percent of all paid leave taken, was associated with the deferred resignation program. Across 76 reviewed federal agencies, 144,312 employees logged a total of 21.6 million workdays on administrative leave in 2025, compared to 4 million workdays recorded in 2023. The findings drew public statements from lawmakers and advocacy researchers regarding executive branch workforce management strategies.
Why this is news
A report released by the Government Accountability Office revealed that the federal government spent $9.5 billion in 2025 on paid administrative leave for federal employees during workforce reduction efforts led by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.