AP: Trump administration rehires hundreds of federal employees previously laid off by the «Department of Government Efficiency»

Recent media reports have disclosed an internal government memo showing that the General Services Administration, which manages federal government office spaces, has notified employees laid off during the «Department of Government Efficiency»s downsizing period, requiring them to decide whether to accept reinstatement by October 6th.

Layoff «buyout» compensation + rehiring = 7 months of paid leave

AP reported on the 24th that this is equivalent to giving these laid-off employees up to 7 months of paid leave before letting them decide whether to return to work.

In reality, these 7 months of paid leave were not originally planned by the GSA, but resulted from the previous buyout program pushed by the «Department of Government Efficiency.» Employees who accepted the buyout received approximately 8 months of salary compensation. However, with the GSA’s latest personnel arrangements, if laid-off employees agree to return to work, it effectively amounts to 7 months of paid leave.

The General Services Administration (GSA) was established in the 1940s and centrally manages thousands of federal government office spaces. The agency’s need to rehire laid-off employees mirrors recent return-to-work initiatives by several other federal agencies.

Last month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced it would allow some employees who accepted resignation offers to remain employed. The Department of Labor has also recalled some employees who accepted buyout packages, while the National Park Service has reinstated some eliminated positions.

Layoffs create chaos leading to property contract violations

Additionally, during this period, the GSA’s management of office spaces for various U.S. government agencies suffered from severe staff shortages and layoff-induced chaos, forcing the agency to continue paying for contracts that should have been terminated or expired leases, with these unnecessary costs being passed on to taxpayers.

A U.S. official revealed that due to personnel turmoil and chaos at the GSA, 131 leases continued incurring high penalty fees after expiration because the government failed to vacate properties promptly, preventing landlords from re-leasing to other tenants. A former GSA real estate official stated the agency is currently fragmented and lacks sufficient staff to perform basic functions. The current situation reflects that Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency moved too far and too fast.

To date, the GSA has not provided any detailed explanation about rehiring employees or the cost overruns resulting from previous layoffs.

Background: «Department of Government Efficiency» and massive federal government layoffs

On January 20th, President Trump signed an executive order establishing an advisory committee called the «Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)» to implement significant federal government reforms. Mere hours later, one of the committee’s leaders, Musk, announced on social media platform X that the «Department of Government Efficiency» began operations immediately after formation.

Eight days later on January 28th, an email sent to federal government staff by the Office of Personnel Management indicated that the U.S. government would offer approximately 8 months of salary compensation to all federal employees who voluntarily resigned, but resigning employees had to decide by February 6th. The email stated that resigning under this plan would continue the employee’s salary and benefits through September 30th, with reduced work requirements during this period.

By late May, Musk announced his resignation from the «Department of Government Efficiency» and subsequently publicly broke with Trump over the «Big and Beautiful» Act. During Musk’s leadership of the «Department of Government Efficiency,» his aggressive layoffs and budget cuts drew widespread criticism.

In late July, Democratic members of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) released a report stating that the «Department of Government Efficiency» (DOGE) created by entrepreneur Musk not only failed to achieve savings over 6 months but instead caused massive «waste» exceeding $21 billion in fiscal funds.

General Services Administration

The General Services Administration (GSA) is a U.S. government agency established in 1949 to manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. Its history involves centralizing government procurement and real estate management, and it is responsible for constructing and maintaining many federal buildings, including historic landmarks. The GSA’s mission is to help federal agencies better serve the public by offering effective workplaces, expert technology solutions, and acquisition services.

Department of Government Efficiency

The Department of Government Efficiency is a modern administrative concept rather than a specific historical site. It refers to a government body or initiative, often established in the 20th or 21st century, dedicated to streamlining bureaucracy and improving public sector performance. Its history is rooted in ongoing public administration reforms aimed at reducing waste and enhancing the effectiveness of government services.

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the United States federal agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement. It was created during the Civil War in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln to fund the war effort, and its powers were permanently established with the 16th Amendment in 1913. Today, the IRS administers the Internal Revenue Code and processes hundreds of millions of tax returns annually.

Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor is a cabinet-level agency of the federal government, established in 1913 during President William Howard Taft’s administration. Its mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees by improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for employment, and protecting retirement and health care benefits.

National Park Service

The National Park Service is a U.S. federal agency established in 1916 to manage and protect the country’s national parks, monuments, and other historic and natural sites. Its creation was championed by figures like Stephen Mather to conserve unimpaired the nation’s significant landscapes and cultural heritage for future generations. Today, it oversees more than 400 areas, providing recreation and education while preserving America’s most treasured places.

Office of Personnel Management

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is a United States federal agency responsible for managing the civil service of the federal government. It was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which reorganized the former U.S. Civil Service Commission. Its primary functions include hiring, benefits administration, and workforce policy for federal employees.

Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) is a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It is one of the most powerful investigative bodies in Congress, with a long history of conducting high-profile inquiries into fraud, corruption, and government waste, dating back to its role in the Army-McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. The PSI’s investigations are renowned for their bipartisan, fact-finding mission to improve government efficiency and hold powerful institutions accountable.

Big and Beautiful Act

I am unable to find any specific information on a place or cultural site named «Big and Beautiful Act.» This name does not correspond to any well-known landmark, museum, or historical location. If you have a different name or more details, I would be happy to try again.