Several hundred federal employees who were let go during Elon Musk’s cost-cutting drive under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are now being asked to return to work, according to the Associated Press. The move comes after the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal office spaces, concluded that Musk’s team went too far, too fast, and caused significant financial strain on the agency.
During Musk’s tenure as head of DOGE, the agency sought to cut costs by canceling nearly half of GSA’s 7,500 leases and selling off hundreds of federally owned buildings. However, the aggressive cost-cutting measures left the GSA understaffed and in a state of financial chaos, with the agency incurring substantial costs for dozens of leases it had planned to terminate or let expire. These costs have been passed along to taxpayers, prompting calls for a reversal of Musk’s aggressive policies.
Critics, including former GSA real estate official Chad Becker, have warned that the agency was left broken and understaffed, with the recall of employees highlighting the extent of the damage caused by Musk’s short-lived government efficiency initiative. The reinstatement offers affect workers who previously oversaw federal office spaces, with the GSA giving affected employees until the end of the week to decide whether to return. Those who accept must report back on October 6, following what has effectively been seven months of paid leave.
Other federal agencies are also seeing similar actions, with the IRS, Labor Department, and National Park Service reportedly bringing back employees who accepted buyouts. The situation marks a significant shift in the Trump administration’s approach to managing federal operations, as the White House seeks to reverse some of the most controversial decisions made during Musk’s brief leadership in DOGE. While it remains unclear whether this will fully address the financial and operational challenges faced by the GSA, the rehiring of employees represents a step toward restoring stability to the agency.
Musk, who became inextricably linked to Trump during the latter’s 2024 presidential campaign, was initially aligned with the president’s efforts to cut government waste. However, the relationship soured when Musk opposed Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill, leading to a public rift between the two. Despite this, the reinstatement of employees underscores the ongoing efforts to mitigate the fallout from Musk’s tenure at DOGE, even as the administration grapples with the broader implications of its cost-cutting policies.