<p>A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that the US government paid federal workers $9.5 billion in 2025 as part of efforts to reduce the federal workforce. This payment was made through paid administrative leave, which increased by 435% from 2023 to 2025, resulting in costs that were six times higher than those incurred in 2023.</p><p>The report highlights initiatives from the "Department of Government Efficiency," which has been associated with Elon Musk. The GAO report was released on September 16, 2026.</p>
✓ AI-Debiased Article
4
Wire-neutral
provisional
✓ No loaded language, vague sourcing, or framing detected.
US Government Paid $9.5 Billion in Administrative Leave in 2025, GAO Report Shows
A GAO report reveals that the US government spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal employees in 2025, marking a 435% increase from 2023. This initiative is linked to efforts aimed at reducing the federal workforce.
People
Elon Musk
Annotating as
No note attached
on this article.
Original vs. Neutral
Original Headline
US government paid federal employees $9.5bn not to work amid Doge cuts – report
Neutral Headline
US Government Paid $9.5 Billion in Administrative Leave in 2025, GAO Report Shows