A federal watchdog report reveals the previous administration spent billions on administrative leave—officially called "buyouts"—for federal employees during a period marked by significant workforce reductions. The Government Accountability Office estimated the cost at nearly $7 billion as agencies paid staff not to work, raising questions about efficiency and fiscal responsibility. Critics are revisiting the era, which saw aggressive efforts to shrink government payrolls through voluntary separations. The findings add to ongoing debates over how such programs were managed and whether they delivered intended savings.
A new government report showing that the administration spent $7 billion paying staff not to work as it pushed its buyouts is sparking the latest round of scrutiny of President Trump’s DOGE era. A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimated the administration spent $6.7 billion on administrative leave after Department of Government Efficiency...
