GAO Finds $6.7B Spent on Staff Leave During Trump Administration

A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed that the Trump administration spent roughly $7 billion on administrative leave for staff who were not working while the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pushed a wave of buyouts. The GAO estimate of $6.7 billion in administrative leave costs underscores the scale of the program, which was designed to encourage employees to voluntarily exit the federal workforce rather than be laid off. The report details how the buyout packages, coupled with extended leave, were used to reduce the size of the civil service during the final months of the administration.

The findings have reignited scrutiny of the Trump administration’s handling of federal personnel, particularly the DOGE’s rapid restructuring efforts. Critics argue that the buyout strategy, while framed as a cost‑saving measure, effectively paid employees to leave without providing adequate transition support. The GAO report also highlights concerns about the transparency of the program’s implementation and the lack of clear oversight mechanisms to ensure that the funds were used as intended.

As lawmakers and watchdog groups examine the GAO’s findings, the administration faces mounting pressure to explain the justification for the substantial administrative leave expenditures. The report is expected to fuel further investigations into the broader fiscal practices of the Trump era, especially those related to personnel management and budgetary oversight.