How DOGE Changed the Federal Workforce: 9% Cut, Layoffs, and the Push for Accountability

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump’s second term, delivered one of the most aggressive federal workforce overhauls in modern history. Launched via executive order in January 2025, DOGE drove mass reductions, buyouts, and policy shifts aimed at slashing “bureaucratic bloat” and boosting accountability. For federal employees, retirees, veterans, and taxpayers relying on government services, the changes brought disruption, job losses, and debates over efficiency versus politicization. Here’s a data-driven look at the impact, drawing from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reports and government analyses.

The Scale of the Reduction: ~9% Cut in 2025

OPM data shows the federal civilian workforce shrank by about 209,775 employees in 2025—a roughly 9% reduction from pre-inauguration levels (around 2.3–2.4 million total civilian employees, excluding postal workers).

• Total separations reached 317,000–322,000 (including voluntary quits, retirements, and other attrition), per OPM Director Scott Kupor and analyses from the Partnership for Public Service and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
• Net decrease: Around 220,000 positions after accounting for ~68,000 new hires (focused on priority areas like defense and border security).
• Involuntary actions: Only about 17,000–24,000 were formal layoffs or reductions in force (RIFs), with the vast majority (92%+) described as voluntary by the administration.

This marked the largest peacetime workforce cut on record, surpassing even Reagan-era reductions. Agencies like the Department of Defense (lost ~61,600, ~8%), Veterans Affairs, and HHS saw the biggest raw numbers, while smaller entities like USAID and the Department of Education faced steeper percentage drops (USAID down ~92% in some reports).

Key Mechanisms: Buyouts, Deferred Resignations, and RIFs

DOGE accelerated departures through targeted tools:

• Deferred Resignation Program (“Fork in the Road”): Launched January 28, 2025, via OPM email—offered up to eight months of pay/benefits through September 2025 for voluntary resignation. Around 149,500 employees took it, per reports, often under pressure from hiring freezes and threats of future cuts.
• Buyouts and Early Retirements: Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIPs) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) encouraged exits, especially in overstaffed or targeted areas.
• Probationary Firings and RIFs: Thousands of newer or probationary employees were terminated quickly; larger RIFs hit specific programs (e.g., DEI offices, certain grants). New OPM rules proposed stripping protections for tens of thousands (e.g., via revived “Schedule F”-style policies), making policy-influencing roles more at-will for accountability.

The administration emphasized merit-based reforms and eliminating “wasteful” positions, while critics argued changes bypassed Congress, lacked transparency, and targeted ideological roles over pure efficiency.

Effects on Services, Morale, and Everyday Americans

The cuts created ripple effects:

• Service Disruptions: Backlogs hit Social Security processing, IRS enforcement (projected revenue losses), benefits claims, and other core functions. Agencies reported workflow chaos, with some rehiring workers after realizing critical gaps.
• Morale Impact: Gallup and federal surveys showed workplace disruptions at triple the national average (~29% of feds reported “very large extent” disruption). Stress, loneliness, and disengagement rose; many considered leaving public service. A long 2025 government shutdown (43 days) compounded pain, delaying paychecks and worsening morale.
• Broader Debates: Supporters credit DOGE for fostering meritocracy, reducing fraud, and redirecting resources to priorities like veterans and security. Critics highlight politicization risks, loss of expertise, and costs (e.g., severance, rehiring, productivity hits estimated in billions). Local economies in federal-heavy areas felt the pinch, with unemployment spikes in some metros.

Lingering Legacy in 2026

DOGE disbanded late 2025, but its changes endure through OMB policies, ongoing RIFs, and workforce restructuring. Musk called it “somewhat successful” in reflections but noted shortcomings. For federal workers and Americans, the era reshaped government—delivering cuts but sparking questions about sustainability and service quality.

The workforce is leaner, but at what cost? As reforms continue, the focus shifts to balancing efficiency with reliable public services.

Related on clickusanews.com: See our coverage on federal workforce updates and agency restructuring impacts.

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