Record number of US civil servants job hunting amid DOGE layoffs

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
25 Mar 2025 17:26

An unprecedented number of American civil servants are on the hunt for new jobs as Trump and Musk's DOGE continues its mass layoffs.

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Elon Musk attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2025 (Pool via AP)

A record number of US civil servants are searching for new jobs following layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), NBC News reported Tuesday, citing data from the job listing site Indeed.

According to the report, the number of job applications from civil servants in departments affected by DOGE cuts surged by 60 percentage points in February compared to January, when President Donald Trump assumed office.

Additionally, job postings from all US civil servants rose by nearly 12 percentage points over the same period. The data begins from January 2022.

"We’ve never seen something like this after a presidential administration and inauguration," Indeed economist Cory Stahle told NBC News.

Stahle noted that the current job market is not ideal for displaced government employees, particularly those with higher education. Indeed’s statistics indicate that around 70% of laid-off civil servants hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which could make competition for jobs more intense.

DOGE was founded in November 2024, in a bid to dismantle bureaucratic red tape, cut excessive regulations, eliminate wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies.

However, since its establishment, the Trump administration has aggressively cut government spending and dismissed tens of thousands of federal workers, with such actions facing legal challenges, with multiple judges issuing injunctions to block them.

US judge orders DOGE to release records

A US judge instructed on Tuesday Elon Musk's DOGE to release its internal documents, stating that the agency’s efforts to reduce government size have been marked by "unusual secrecy."

US District Judge Christopher Cooper remarked that DOGE's authority "across the federal government and the dramatic cuts it has made with no congressional input appear to be unprecedented."

In his court opinion, he noted that the "rapid pace" of DOGE’s actions "requires the quick release of information about its structure and activities."

The judge emphasized this need was "especially so given the secrecy with which (DOGE) has operated."

Cooper argued that the entity is "likely covered" by the Freedom of Information Act and said that "the public would be irreparably harmed by an indefinite delay in unearthing the records."

This comes after Musk privately assured Republican lawmakers on March 7 that he is not responsible for the mass layoffs of US federal workers, sparking nationwide controversy.

Both Musk and Trump appear to be distancing the former from the sweeping job cuts of the past two months, despite his public endorsement of such measures. The tech mogul has previously advocated for eliminating entire federal agencies, answered questions on the topic alongside the US president, and even wielded a chainsaw at an event to symbolize his stance—all while facing legal scrutiny and expert criticism.