$7 Million a Month for Idle Federal Workers
Education Department administrative leave is costing over $7 million monthly, according to a recent union analysis. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252 says the payments have already exceeded $21 million in just three months since layoffs in March 2025.
The Trump administration initially terminated the workers as part of its plan to cut the department’s workforce by nearly half. A federal court blocked the effort in May and reinstated employees, though they remain barred from returning to work — a situation many call ‘administrative purgatory.
Trump’s Plan and Legal Roadblocks
The mass terminations were part of President Donald Trump’s agenda to shutter or downsize the Department of Education, under the guise of efficiency and cost-cutting. The department laid off around 1,300 employees, and hundreds more accepted voluntary buyouts.
While the administration aimed to reduce “waste,” critics argue the situation has backfired, creating even more unproductive costs with no work output.
Following a court ruling halting the agency’s closure, the Department reinstated workers—but put them on paid administrative leave while lawsuits continue to play out.
Union Response: Wasteful and Demoralizing
AFGE Local 252 estimates the true monthly cost likely exceeds $7 million when adding benefits, management salaries, and overhead.
“It’s demoralizing,” said Ariel Shepetovskiy, a Department of Education lawyer. “It feels like garbage to receive pay in exchange for doing nothing.”
“I almost feel like a leech on the system,” added Robert Jason Cottrell, a data coordinator who is ready and willing to work.
The psychological effects on government workers
Workers on leave discussed their emotions of stress, shame, and worry about the future. Some people are paid as if they are still employed, even if they are unable to do their duties because they no longer have access to certain systems.
“I’m frustrated and upset every day,” said Shepetovskiy. “But if I leave, I lose any chance of returning.”
Settlement Offers & Resignations
As the lawsuits grind on, the Department has offered some employees settlement deals to resign early in exchange for temporary continued pay through September 2025. Some described the offers as manipulative, while union leaders say they are tactics to push workers out without due process.
“They’re trying to intimidate great public servants,” said Sheria Smith, AFGE Local 252 president.
Employees who decline settlements say they are holding out for reinstatement and accountability.
Department’s Response: Vague Promises of Reintegration
An internal email obtained by CNN indicates the agency is evaluating how to “reintegrate” employees, including restoring technology access and workspace logistics. But no clear timeline has been offered, and frustration continues to mount.
Source: CNN
