WASHINGTON, District of Columbia — The Trump administration spent an estimated $10 billion paying federal employees to remain on administrative leave in 2025, according to a new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a watchdog group that argues the practice violated federal law and undermined government operations.
In a letter sent to the Government Accountability Office, the group estimated that more than 154,000 federal workers, nearly 7 percent of the civilian workforce, were placed on paid leave during the year. PEER said the compensation costs amounted to roughly $10 billion paid to employees who were not working, even as several agencies faced staffing shortages.
The organization contends the practice conflicted with the Administrative Leave Act, a law passed by Congress in 2016 to prevent agencies from sidelining employees for extended periods. That statute generally limits paid administrative leave to 10 workdays per year, with narrow exceptions. PEER and outside legal analysts argue the administration sidestepped those limits by creating new classifications of paid leave not clearly authorized by statute.
Enforcement options appear limited. PEER has asked the GAO to formally determine whether the spending violated appropriations law, a step that could trigger penalties or referrals. However, pursuing accountability would likely require action from the Justice Department or other oversight bodies that currently face structural or political barriers.
Critics say the result is an accountability gap that allowed the program to continue despite legal questions, while supporters of stricter oversight argue the issue highlights broader concerns about executive authority and compliance with congressional spending laws.
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