DOGE Shut Down This Agency. Now Its Employees Are Back on the Payroll With Nothing To Do.

The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness left a dozen federal employees on the payroll for nearly a year after its official dissolution, raising questions about accountability and efficiency in the transition. Critics argue the shutdown was justified, but the prolonged retention of staff without clear purpose highlights potential gaps in oversight during the process. While the council’s role in coordinating homelessness efforts remains debated, the lingering payroll issue underscores broader concerns about federal resource management during major policy shifts. The situation prompts scrutiny of how agencies handle transitions when restructuring or eliminating programs.

Shutting down the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the right thing to do, but the Trump administration's approach allowed a dozen federal employees to collect paychecks for a year.