Summary (tl;dr)

Keywords related to "Trump deferred resignation program federal workers" are trending following a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealing that the U.S. federal government spent an estimated $6.7 billion in 2025 paying federal employees to resign under a program initiated by the second Trump administration.

Essential Background

During his 2024 presidential campaign and into his second term, Donald Trump emphasized a goal of significantly downsizing and restructuring the federal workforce, aiming for greater government efficiency. This initiative included the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on January 20, 2025, by executive order, with the stated objective of modernizing information technology and maximizing productivity within the federal government. While DOGE was conceptualized as an advisory body, it played a role in the broader push to reduce what the administration perceived as wasteful federal spending and bureaucracy.

The Full Story

The current surge in interest stems from recent analyses of the Trump administration's "deferred resignation program" (DRP), which was offered to federal workers starting on January 28, 2025. This program allowed employees to resign while continuing to receive full pay and benefits through September 30, 2025. A report published on September 16, 2026, by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights that an estimated $6.7 billion of taxpayer money was spent in 2025 on salaries for approximately 139,963 to 154,000 federal employees who exited government service through this program. The report also indicates a substantial increase in paid administrative leave costs. Separately, an analysis from the Partnership for Public Service in August 2026 scrutinized the program's impact, suggesting it weakened agencies' capacity and eroded institutional knowledge, often resulting in replacements joining at lower experience levels.

Why It Matters

The trend is significant due to the substantial financial cost to taxpayers, with billions spent on paying employees who were no longer actively working. It also raises concerns about the impact on the federal government's operational capacity and institutional knowledge, as a large number of experienced federal workers voluntarily departed. Critics have questioned the efficiency and legality of the program, despite the administration's claims that it aimed to create a leaner and more effective government. The findings reignite debate over government workforce management and the methods used to achieve administrative efficiency.

Geographic Location

• Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (headquarters of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE))
• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (location of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which managed and reported on the program, respectively)