GSA Offers Reinstatement After DOGE Cuts

The General Services Administration is offering hundreds of former employees laid off during Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) campaign until the end of the week to accept or decline reinstatement; those who accept must report on Oct. 6 after roughly seven months of paid leave. The cuts began in March and included more than 800 lease‑cancellation notices and plans to sell hundreds of federal buildings, which left the agency understaffed and disrupted operations. In some cases the GSA continued paying for properties whose leases were slated for termination or allowed to expire, generating additional costs borne by taxpayers. Pushback and operational problems have forced the agency to roll back many terminations — more than 480 leases have been spared — and the rehiring mirrors similar reversals at the IRS, Labor Department and National Park Service. Critics, including former GSA real estate official Chad Becker and Rep. Greg Stanton, say the cuts caused costly confusion, undermined services and have not shown evidence of delivering savings.