{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-administration-paid-95-billion-for-federal-workers-not-to-work","slug":"trump-administration-paid-95-billion-for-federal-workers-not-to-work","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-administration-paid-95-billion-for-federal-workers-not-to-work","title":"Trump administration paid $9.5 billion for federal workers not to work","subtitle":"Government watchdog report details increased use of paid administrative leave under the Department of Government Efficiency initiative.","excerpt":"A Government Accountability Office report found the Trump administration spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers in 2025. The initiative, known as DOGE, led to a 435% increase in such leave, with an estimated $6.7 billion spent on a deferred resignation program.","category":"Politics","area":null,"publishedAt":"2026-09-16T17:46:02.592Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-16T17:12:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-16T17:46:02.592Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":50,"critic":65,"hype":45,"notes":{"trust":"The central claim is attributed to the Government Accountability Office, a named body, and corroborated by multiple independent outlets.","critic":"The reporting includes a quote from an official defending the program and mentions the OPM's disagreement with the GAO's findings.","hype":"Headlines use phrases like 'burned nearly $10B' and 'torched nearly $10 billion' which are more sensational than the reported figures."}},"tags":["#TrumpAdministration","#FederalEmployees","#PaidLeave","#DOGE","#GAOReport"],"entities":["Donald Trump","Elon Musk","Government Accountability Office","Office of Personnel Management"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["The Trump administration spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal employees in 2025, according to a Government Accountability Office report.","The use of paid administrative leave by federal agencies increased by 435% in 2025, largely due to the deferred resignation program.","An estimated $6.7 billion of the total expenditure was for the deferred resignation program, which placed over 144,000 employees on leave.","The Office of Personnel Management stated the GAO report does not distinguish between one-time expenses and annual savings."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The Trump administration spent $9.5 billion in 2025 on paid administrative leave for federal workers, a significant increase driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that this spending led to a 435% rise in the use of paid administrative leave across federal agencies."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"A substantial portion of this expenditure, an estimated $6.7 billion, was allocated to a deferred resignation program. Through this program, more than 144,000 employees were placed on paid leave as an incentive to resign. The program was primarily offered early in President Trump's second term."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on cost figures"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"While the GAO report estimated overall spending on paid administrative leave at $9.5 billion, it estimated $6.7 billion was spent on the deferred resignation program. The Washington Examiner and Time Magazine digests reported the $6.7 billion figure for the deferred resignation program, while other reports cited $9.5 billion for overall paid administrative leave."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated reports mentioned the Office of Personnel Management's statement that the GAO report fails to highlight the difference between a one-time expense and annual savings. Similarly, none of the right-rated reports mentioned this statement from the Office of Personnel Management."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"antena3.ro","url":"https://antena3.ro/externe/guvernul-lui-trump-le-a-dat-aproape-10-miliarde-dolari-angajatilor-federali-sa-stea-acasa-anul-trecut-803507.html","headline":"Trump's Government Gave Nearly $10 Billion to Federal Employees to Stay Home Last Year.","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T17:12:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"DiarioBitcoin","url":"https://diariobitcoin.com/noticias/doge-habria-costado-usd-9-500-millones-en-salarios-de-trabajadores-sin-funciones","headline":"DOGE Would Have Cost US$9.5 Billion in Wages of Non-Functioning Workers","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T17:05:24.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Daily Kos","url":"https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/16/800098969/news/doge-administrative-leave-lost-tax-money","headline":"DOGE burned nearly $10B so federal employees wouldn’t work","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T17:00:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent","url":"https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/doge-trump-musk-government-employees-b3051310.html","headline":"Trump admin paid $9.5 billion for federal employees not to work amid DOGE crackdown","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T16:32:45.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Examiner","url":"https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4729534/doge-buyouts-cost-government-billions-gao-report","headline":"DOGE's 'Fork in the road' buyouts cost government nearly $7B","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T16:30:50.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Hindustan Times","url":"https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/trump-administration-paid-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-doge-101789573227184.html","headline":"Trump administration paid employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025: Report","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T16:04:41.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Raw Story","url":"https://rawstory.com/doge-2677867297","headline":"DOGE torched nearly $10 billion trying to root out waste, fraud and abuse: watchdog","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T15:06:38.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Political Wire","url":"https://politicalwire.com/2026/09/16/trump-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work","headline":"Trump Paid Federal Employees $9.5 Billion Not to Work","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T14:31:11.991Z"},{"sourceName":"NBC News","url":"https://nbcnews.com/politics/doge/trump-doge-employee-leave-billions-rcna598108","headline":"Trump administration spent $9.5 billion last year on employee leave, driven by DOGE-era cuts","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T14:17:45.703Z"},{"sourceName":"HuffPost","url":"https://huffpost.com/entry/trump-admin-paid-federal-workers-nearly-10-billion-not-to-work-last-year_n_6aaa9973e4b0288deb0e1275","headline":"Trump’s Brilliant Plan To Shrink Government Included Paying Workers Nearly $10 Billion Not To Work","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T14:01:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"tippinsights","url":"https://tippinsights.com/trump-administration-spent-9-5-billion-on-federal-workers-paid-leave","headline":"Trump Administration Spent $9.5 Billion On Federal Workers’ Paid Leave","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T14:00:50.000Z"},{"sourceName":"CNN Brasil","url":"https://cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/doge-licencas-impostas-cofres-publicos-eua","headline":"Doge-Imposed Licenses Cost US$9.5 Bi to U.S. Public Safes","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:44:53.000Z"},{"sourceName":"CNN","url":"https://cnn.com/2026/09/16/politics/trump-doge-gao-report","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.543Z"},{"sourceName":"KIFI","url":"https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KRDO","url":"https://krdo.com/news/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KVIA","url":"https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KEYT","url":"https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KMIZ","url":"https://abc17news.com/politics/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KESQ","url":"https://kesq.com/news/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"kioncentralcoast.com","url":"https://kioncentralcoast.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T13:10:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"calfkicker.com","url":"https://calfkicker.com/elon-musks-doge-attempted-to-downsize-the-civil-service-but-instead-led-to-a-10-billion-bill-for-non-working-federal-staff","headline":"Elon Musk's DOGE Attempted To Downsize The Civil Service But Instead LED To A $10 Billion Bill For Non-working Federal Staff","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T12:17:21.000Z"},{"sourceName":"We Got This Covered","url":"https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/doge-promised-to-cut-federal-spending-but-a-new-report-shows-9-5-billion-was-spent-paying-workers-not-to-work-most-expensive-way-imaginable","headline":"DOGE promised to cut federal spending. But a new report shows $9.5 billion was spent paying workers not to work: 'Most expensive way imaginable'","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T12:15:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The New Republic","url":"https://newrepublic.com/post/215484/federal-workers-got-paid-billions-not-work-thanks-doge","headline":"Federal Workers Got Paid Billions Not to Work Thanks to DOGE","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T12:00:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Joe.My.God.","url":"https://joemygod.com/2026/09/federal-staffers-were-paid-9-5b-not-to-work-in-2025","headline":"Federal Staffers Were Paid $9.5B Not To Work In 2025","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T11:00:19.000Z"},{"sourceName":"News Facts Network","url":"https://newsfactsnetwork.com/news/doge-deferred-resignations-cost-taxpayers-nearly-10-billion-gao-report","headline":"DOGE Deferred Resignations Cost Taxpayers Nearly $10 Billion: GAO Report","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T04:05:02.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Seattle Times","url":"https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/federal-employees-were-paid-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-effort","headline":"Federal employees were paid $9.5B not to work in 2025 under DOGE effort","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T03:06:01.000Z"},{"sourceName":"1prime.ru","url":"https://1prime.ru/20260916/palata-873332073.html","headline":"The U.S. Court of Accounts Reported on Federal Employee Leave Costs.","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T01:19:56.482Z"},{"sourceName":"Time Magazine","url":"https://time.com/article/2026/09/16/federal-spending-layoffs-deferred-resignation-opm-doge-gao-report","headline":"Thanks to DOGE, Federal Employees Got Paid Billions to Not Work","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Federal News Network","url":"https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2026/09/trump-administrations-drp-cost-6-7b-last-year-watchdog-estimates","headline":"Trump administration’s DRP cost $6.7B last year, watchdog estimates","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T22:12:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Mediaite","url":"https://mediaite.com/media/news/government-paid-federal-employees-almost-10-billion-not-to-work-thanks-to-doge","headline":"Federal Workers Paid $10 Billion Not to Work Thanks to DOGE","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T21:22:26.000Z"},{"sourceName":"FEDweek","url":"https://fedweek.com/fedweek/paid-leave-under-deferred-resignation-program-cost-6-7-billion-gao-estimates","headline":"Paid Leave under Deferred Resignation Program Cost $6.7 Billion, GAO Estimates","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T18:12:16.000Z"},{"sourceName":"washingtonsun.com","url":"https://washingtonsun.com/agencies/trump-spent-billions-paid-leave-federal-workers-watchdog-report","headline":"Trump Is Spending Billions More on Paid Leave for Federal Workers, Watchdog Finds","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T17:42:51.887Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Times","url":"https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/donald-trumps-federal-worker-buyouts-cost-67-billion","headline":"Trump's federal worker buyouts cost $6.7 billion","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T17:01:23.133Z"},{"sourceName":"UPI","url":"https://upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/09/15/report-government-paid-employees-9-billion-not-to-work/3671789519232","headline":"Trump administration paid federal employees $9.5B not to work under DOGE program","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T12:11:36.856Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":46,"centre":43,"right":11},"count":{"left":13,"centre":12,"right":3},"totalSources":34,"untracked":6,"rated":28,"observedAt":"2026-09-16T17:30:08.941624+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-16T18:00:12.171Z","closedAt":null,"checks":1,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["Left-rated reports highlighted the substantial cost of the paid administrative leave, with Daily Kos stating that DOGE \"burned nearly $10B\" and that the initiative \"cost taxpayers billions.\" The Independent noted that \"Trump spent billions to push out experienced and badly needed experts across government,\" quoting a top Democrat. HuffPost's headline stated, \"Trump’s Brilliant Plan To Shrink Government Included Paying Workers Nearly $10 Billion Not To Work,\" and cited a Democrat calling the cuts \"the most expensive way imaginable to make government worse.\""],"centre":["Centre-rated reports focused on the figures and the administration's stated goals. KIFI, citing CNN, reported that the Trump administration \"paid federal employees $9.5 billion not to work in 2025 under DOGE plan.\" Political Wire also reported the $9.5 billion figure, noting it was \"part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money.\" News Facts Network reported that \"DOGE Deferred Resignations Cost Taxpayers Nearly $10 Billion: GAO Report.\""],"right":["Right-rated reports focused on the cost of the deferred resignation program specifically. The Washington Examiner's headline stated, \"DOGE's 'Fork in the road' buyouts cost government nearly $7B.\" The Washington Times reported, \"Trump's federal worker buyouts cost $6.7 billion.\" Tippinsights reported the $9.5 billion figure for overall paid leave but did not elaborate on the deferred resignation program."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"mixed":5,"high":20,"unknown":7,"veryHigh":2},"ownershipDistribution":{"mediaConglomerate":13,"billionaire":5,"independent":7,"corporation":1},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"UPI","url":"https://upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/09/15/report-government-paid-employees-9-billion-not-to-work/3671789519232","publishedAt":"2026-09-15T12:11:36.856Z"},"countries":[{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":5},{"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United 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But a new report shows $9.5 billion was spent paying workers not to work: 'Most expensive way imaginable'","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T12:15:00.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"calfkicker.com","url":"https://calfkicker.com/elon-musks-doge-attempted-to-downsize-the-civil-service-but-instead-led-to-a-10-billion-bill-for-non-working-federal-staff","headline":"Elon Musk's DOGE Attempted To Downsize The Civil Service But Instead LED To A $10 Billion Bill For Non-working Federal Staff","publishedAt":"2026-09-16T12:17:21.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"KIFI","url":"https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/16/trump-administration-paid-federal-employees-9-5-billion-not-to-work-in-2025-under-doge-plan","headline":"Trump administration paid 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