Overview
- Bureau of Labor Statistics data show roughly 271,000 fewer federal employees than at the start of 2025, a drop from just over 3 million to 2.74 million by November.
- OPM reports that more than 317,000 people stopped working for the federal government in 2025, while agencies hired tens of thousands, including 68,000 new employees.
- The October headcount decline was the steepest, with about 162,000 departures as deferred resignation participants officially came off payrolls after Sept. 30.
- OPM Director Scott Kupor says only about 25,000 workers were actually terminated, and an OPM spokesperson describes the Deferred Resignation Program as fully voluntary.
- The administration has moved to rehire some personnel for critical functions, and a Brookings tally cites 26,511 instances of workers being fired and later brought back, sometimes under court orders.