$9.5 Billion Paid-Leave Bill Traces To The Deferred Resignation Buyout
Paid-leave costs across agencies are six times what they were in 2023, and $6.7 billion of that traces to OPM's buyout offer.
- GAO-26-108477 found federal paid administrative leave totaled $9.5 billion in fiscal year 2025.
- That is six times the amount agencies paid for the same leave in 2023.
- OPM's deferred resignation program alone accounts for $6.7 billion of the 2025 total.
Why it matters: Paid administrative leave is severance by another name, and this program alone cost taxpayers $6.7 billion this year.