US taxpayers have been left with a staggering $10 billion bill for extended paid leave granted to federal workers under the Trump administration, according to an analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer). This costly strategy, aimed at "government efficiency," resulted in over 154,000 employees being put on paid leave in 2025, accounting for nearly 7% of the federal civilian workforce.
The extended paid leaves were allegedly implemented as part of a broader assault on the federal workforce, with Peer accusing the Trump administration of violating the law and wasting taxpayer money. The organization's senior counsel, Peter Jenkins, describes this approach as "a hell of a way to run a railroad," highlighting the wasteful nature of using taxpayer funds to compensate employees for not working.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Deficiency Act prohibits government spending on employees who should not be on leave, but this provision has been circumvented by the Trump administration's classification system. Peer alleges that this system "totally gut the law," as it deviates from Congress's intended intent and instead creates a separate set of regulations.
The regulatory framework for paid leave is complex, with multiple laws and oversight bodies involved. The lack of clear enforcement mechanisms has created an "accountability black hole," according to Madeline Materna, a Stanford University doctoral student who studies the issue. This complexity makes it challenging to pursue legal action against the administration, with many experts concluding that criminal prosecution is unlikely.
In an attempt to hold the administration accountable, Peer has filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which must determine whether the paid leave program violates the law. If found guilty, agency heads could face penalties, including removal from office and fines. However, the process remains uncertain, with many experts questioning the likelihood of successful enforcement.
The Trump administration's paid leave strategy has left a trail of controversy, with numerous employees being denied access to justice due to the complex regulatory landscape. As one expert notes, "there's clever dancing around the law," which has enabled the administration to avoid accountability for its actions.
The extended paid leaves were allegedly implemented as part of a broader assault on the federal workforce, with Peer accusing the Trump administration of violating the law and wasting taxpayer money. The organization's senior counsel, Peter Jenkins, describes this approach as "a hell of a way to run a railroad," highlighting the wasteful nature of using taxpayer funds to compensate employees for not working.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Deficiency Act prohibits government spending on employees who should not be on leave, but this provision has been circumvented by the Trump administration's classification system. Peer alleges that this system "totally gut
The regulatory framework for paid leave is complex, with multiple laws and oversight bodies involved. The lack of clear enforcement mechanisms has created an "accountability black hole," according to Madeline Materna, a Stanford University doctoral student who studies the issue. This complexity makes it challenging to pursue legal action against the administration, with many experts concluding that criminal prosecution is unlikely.
In an attempt to hold the administration accountable, Peer has filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which must determine whether the paid leave program violates the law. If found guilty, agency heads could face penalties, including removal from office and fines. However, the process remains uncertain, with many experts questioning the likelihood of successful enforcement.
The Trump administration's paid leave strategy has left a trail of controversy, with numerous employees being denied access to justice due to the complex regulatory landscape. As one expert notes, "there's clever dancing around the law," which has enabled the administration to avoid accountability for its actions.
so this is like what happens when you try to make some cost-cutting measures but end up wasting a gazillion dollars instead? i mean, $10 billion is insane! 
and it's not just that, the fact that they're basically dodging accountability by using some fancy classification system is super shady. 
shouldn't there be clearer rules or regulations in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening? it seems like a total mess to me...
And I'm not surprised that the Trump administration would try to find ways to skirt the rules, it's like they're trying to make history for all the wrong reasons 
. The fact that they've managed to confuse and frustrate so many people with this paid leave program is just infuriating 
. It's not right that employees are being denied justice because of a bunch of bureaucratic red tape 
. I wish there was more transparency and accountability in our government, it would make such huge differences for people who are already struggling 
.
like, nope, just more proof that our tax dollars are being wasted on bureaucrats taking extended vacations. 
! I mean, $10 billion on extended paid leave? That's just crazy talk! 
. The fact that the Trump admin circumvented the Anti-Deficiency Act and created a whole new set of regulations is straight-up shady 
.
. It's time for some accountability, you know? Maybe if someone actually takes on the admin, we'll get some real answers 
. And what about all those employees who got left high and dry while they were on paid leave? That's just not right 
.
. We need some real oversight here, pronto 
! Until then, I'll be over here watching from the sidelines 
. The Admin should've thought of that before 
... yeah right 
. Time to clean up the mess 
. The system needs to be fixed 
i mean what's the point of even having a paid leave program if not being used properly? 
. 154,000 employees on paid leave? That's a lot of lives being impacted by one decision 
. And the fact that they're using taxpayer money to compensate them without following the law is just insane 
.
We need more transparency and accountability from our government officials! 
. The lack of accountability is giving me some serious anxiety 
the fact that the admin is getting away with this is wild, especially since it's coming from a gov't agency that's supposed to be looking out for taxpayer interests 
these fed workers are still working hard and deserve to get paid for it too 
. And honestly, i'm kinda surprised they got away with this for as long as they did 
but until then, let's just keep calling out these shady moves and hoping for change 
