DOGE is reported to have fired or driven out over 260,000 federal workers in 2025 , according to the Office of Management and Budget cited in recent reporting, with some coverage putting the figure at about 300,000.

What that means

The most careful single-number answer is: roughly 260,000 to 300,000 people.

That total includes not just direct firings, but also early retirements, deferred resignations, buyouts, and hiring freezes that reduced the federal workforce.

Why the number varies

Different stories count DOGE’s impact differently, so the total changes depending on whether the reporter includes only direct layoffs or the broader wave of departures tied to the cuts.

Some reports also focus on specific agencies or groups of workers, which can make the headline number look much smaller than the government-wide total.

Simple answer

If you want the short version for a post: DOGE is widely reported to have caused about 260,000–300,000 federal job losses.