DOGE Is Dead. The Damage to the Federal Workforce Isn't.

DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — officially shut down on July 4, but the damage to the federal workforce it leaves behind is only now coming into focus. When Congress asked the White House for a final accounting, the answer was that there would not be one. Here is what the available numbers show.

The People

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), roughly 386,000 employees left federal service between January 2025 and January 2026. Net of hiring, the workforce shrank by more than a quarter million — about 12 percent — leaving it the smallest it has been since 1966. Those departures are often described as voluntary, but "voluntary" included the deferred-resignation "Fork" offer and fifteen months of sustained pressure on the workforce.

The Money

DOGE claimed $214 billion in savings, a figure the GAO was unable to verify. The "Fork" deferred-resignation buyouts alone are estimated to have created an $11 billion cost — full pay for employees not working — and one DOGE staffer testified under oath that the effort never reduced the deficit.

The Whiplash

Several agencies pushed people out and then moved to bring them back. The IRS reportedly separated 27 percent of its workforce and is now fast-tracking roughly 8,000 employees back. HHS cut about 10,000 positions and is hiring around 12,000. At the Department of Energy, staff who handle nuclear waste were pushed out, and an auditor later found that mission-critical work had been compromised.

What this Means for Federal Employees

If you were fired, took the "Fork," or were worn down until you walked away, you are not a rounding error. In one widely reported example, an agency's employee of the year was laid off and then emailed months later with an invitation to interview for her own job. Feeling disoriented by that kind of churn is a reasonable response to a genuinely chaotic period — not a sign that you are misreading the situation.

One Thing that Outlasts DOGE

The annual workforce survey the government is required by law to run was canceled — in the same year a record number of employees left. Twenty-three members of Congress have asked for answers. No single federal employee can sue to force that data's release, but if you want it made public, you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your member of Congress.

If the past eighteen months have affected your federal employment and you want to understand your rights, the attorneys for federal employees at Southworth PC represent federal employees nationwide and worldwide.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation.