The Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) deferred resignation program cost the U.S. government $6.7 billion in paid salaries to federal employees not working between 2023 and 2025, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The program, part of efforts to reduce the federal workforce, led to a 435% increase in administrative leave use and $9.5 billion in total paid salaries for off-duty employees during that period, per the GAO analysis.
In February 2025, DOGE sent a “Fork in the Road” email to two million federal workers offering voluntary resignation with full pay and benefits through September 2025. Nearly 140,000 employees accepted the offer, resulting in a significant temporary payroll expense. The GAO report attributes $6.7 billion of the $9.5 billion administrative leave cost specifically to this deferred resignation program. However, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor disputed the findings, stating the cuts will save taxpayers money over time by reducing the government payroll by 270,000 employees.
Civilian salaries and benefits account for about 5.5% of the federal budget and were targeted in Elon Musk’s federal spending cuts. The GAO report highlights the immediate financial impact of the deferred resignation program, while Kupor emphasized the long-term savings, estimating $40 billion per year in taxpayer savings following the workforce reduction. The report underscores the complex fiscal effects of large-scale federal workforce restructuring efforts.
The GAO’s findings on the deferred resignation program were published this week, providing detailed payroll data analysis from 2023 to 2025. OPM Director Scott Kupor responded with a statement emphasizing the program’s long-term cost benefits, framing the $9.5 billion expense as a one-time investment to achieve substantial annual savings.