The DOGE Effect: Month by Month
The federal workforce shrank by a net 217,177 positions since January 2025. Here's how the restructuring unfolded, month by month.
Peak Month Separations
127,951
Sep 2025
Total Cumulative Net Loss
217,177
Since Jan 2025
Worst Net Month
-115,269
Sep 2025
Total RIFs
10,721
11 months of DOGE
Separations vs. Accessions
The Story, Month by Month
22,294 separations — the restructuring begins. Hiring still strong at 22,794.
15,638 separations as DOGE ramps up. Hiring drops to 9,907 — the spending freeze takes hold.
22,161 separations with hiring cut to 4,966. Net reduction of 17,195 in one month.
24,343 separations including 185 RIFs. Hiring frozen at 7,495.
26,988 separations including 256 RIFs. Hiring frozen at 9,729.
20,329 separations including 526 RIFs. Hiring frozen at 10,758.
23,629 separations including 5,531 RIFs — the largest RIF month. Only 8,465 hired.
19,743 separations including 1,417 RIFs. Hiring frozen at 9,437.
127,951 separations — the single largest month of federal workforce reduction in modern history. Only 12,682 hired.
Separations slow to 18,518. Hiring at 8,283. The initial restructuring appears to be stabilizing.
12,253 separations — lowest since DOGE began. Net change nearly flat at -504. The new baseline.
Related Analysis
DOGE Impact Dashboard
Full breakdown of 2025 federal workforce restructuring by agency, month, and separation type.
Explore →Who Got Cut
Agency-by-agency breakdown of the 2025 DOGE-driven workforce reductions.
Explore →Workforce Trends
Month-by-month hiring, separations, and net change across the federal government.
Explore →