US Job Cuts Surge with DOGE Actions Led by Musk

In March, U.S. employers announced 275,240 job cuts, marking a 60% increase from February and a 205% rise from the previous year, as reported by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The majority of these cuts were attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, targeting federal positions across 27 agencies to reduce government spending under the Trump administration. These layoffs represent the third-highest monthly total on record, trailing only the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DOGE actions have led to 280,253 layoffs over two months, affecting federal workers, contractors, and resulting in cuts in federal aid impacting nonprofits and healthcare organizations. Critics, including economists Paul Krugman and Robert Reich, warn of potential economic downturns due to these mass layoffs, mass deportations, and tariffs. The layoffs have significantly affected Washington, D.C., with legal challenges and lawsuits arising to contest some of the terminations.