Federal Agencies Rehire Workers After DOGE Cuts
NPR reports that after an eight‑month push by the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to shrink federal payrolls, multiple agencies are rehiring hundreds of employees and spending more as they struggle to carry out core operations. The story cites Office of Personnel Management estimates (about 1 in 8 civilian workers could be gone by year end, roughly 300,000 people), more than 150,000 voluntary "Fork in the Road" buyouts, and Treasury data showing year‑over‑year increases in federal expenditures by hundreds of billions; the developments come as a government shutdown began this week, complicating the administration’s workforce plans.
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🔍 Key Facts
- OPM estimate: roughly 1 in 8 civilian federal workers (≈300,000 of 2.4 million) could be gone by year end
- More than 150,000 federal employees accepted the administration's 'Fork in the Road' buyout/deferred resignation offer
- Treasury data cited in the article show federal expenditures rose by 'hundreds of billions' compared with the prior year
- White House spokeswoman Liz Huston is quoted defending DOGE; the White House declined to answer NPR questions about rehiring and data errors
- Context: a government shutdown began Wednesday, and agencies have floated using the impasse to pursue further cuts or reorganization
📍 Contextual Background
- The Social Security Administration's contingency plans provide that in the event of a lapse in appropriations the agency will follow those plans and beneficiaries would continue receiving Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
- A Social Security Administration contingency plan published on Sept. 24 indicated that about 45,000 SSA employees (roughly 90% of the agency's workforce) would remain on the job during a government shutdown, while roughly 6,200 employees would be furloughed.
- Formal recruiting figures for all U.S. military services are typically announced after the federal fiscal year ends on September 30.