DOGE-driven layoffs in March third-highest recorded
Layoffs driven by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to the federal workforce totaled 275,240 in March, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the third-highest monthly amount ever recorded by the outplacement firm.
The firm said that the government sector accounted for 216,215 layoffs last month.
The Trump administration has cut 279,445 federal jobs since the president started his second term in office, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, compared 36,195 cuts to the federal workforce announced in the first quarter of 2024.
“Job cut announcements were dominated last month by Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE] plans to eliminate positions in the federal government. It would have otherwise been a fairly quiet month for layoffs,” Andrew Challenger, senior vice president and workplace expert for Challenger, Gray & Christmas said in a statement.
The firm's Challenger Report found that East region recorded 355,993 layoffs so far this year, a 277 percent year-over-year increase.
In the first three months of 2025, the District of Columbia had 278,711 layoffs, compared to 34,120 in the first quarter of 2024.
Th White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed agencies across the government to turn over plans for widespread layoffs for federal employees by March 13.
Job cuts also occurred at independent agencies including U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Institute of Peace.
Lawsuits, however, have temporarily halted plans to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the mass reduction slated for the Department of Education.
Additional rulings required the Trump administration to reinstate some workers who judges say were wrongfully terminated.
The Challenger Report highlighted its attempt to track rescinded layoffs and found 3,972, which were included in the report. However, they said it was unclear if all workers who were recalled returned to their positions.
Challenger did include probationary federal employee cuts in its totals.