Trump’s Rehiring Initiative: Over 26,000 DOGE-Fired Staff to Return Amid Legal Challenges!

Topline

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has acknowledged that thousands of federal employees may have been wrongly let go during the sweeping layoffs led by the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As agencies scramble to correct what may be one of the largest layoff blunders in federal history, many of those employees could soon be back on the job.

Key Facts

• Kennedy estimated that roughly 20% of the 10,000 health workers laid off earlier this week—around 2,000 people—are likely to be reinstated. He admitted mistakes were made, citing the elimination of the CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch as one of several possible missteps.
• The Department of Agriculture admitted in February it had mistakenly terminated several employees involved in managing the bird flu outbreak, which had a direct impact on rising egg prices. Before this, reports showed that about 25% of the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network (roughly four employees) were laid off.
• The National Nuclear Security Administration, responsible for managing nuclear weapons, brought back most of the 300+ employees it had fired after receiving pushback from Congress. According to CNN, around 275 workers were rehired.
• The Veterans Crisis Hotline asked around a dozen former staffers to return after they were mistakenly dismissed. The agency also acknowledged that job offers for some new roles had been “accidentally rescinded” due to administrative issues.
• The Department of Education reversed layoffs affecting about 50 tech workers at the Federal Student Aid office. This decision came after the student aid portal temporarily went offline, though officials denied any direct link between the incident and the job cuts.
• The FDA has plans to rehire nearly one-third of the over 1,000 employees it let go. This includes at least 11 team members from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, which plays a key role in reviewing medical devices.
• According to Oregon Public Radio, the Bonneville Power Administration, part of the Department of Energy, reinstated around 124 employees out of the 400+ it had originally laid off.
• Federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to rehire or place tens of thousands of probationary employees (those on the job for less than a year) on administrative leave across 18 agencies. This includes 555 at the Department of Energy, 791 at Commerce, 3,248 at HHS, 1,712 at Interior, and 7,613 at the Treasury. In total, over 24,000 employees are impacted, though the administration is currently appealing the decision to the Supreme Court.

Who Was Affected at HHS?

Kennedy launched a major restructuring of the Health and Human Services Department, eliminating entire divisions and terminating or reassigning several top leaders. Some high-profile staff, like Jeanne Marrazzo, who succeeded Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, were reportedly asked to relocate to places like Alaska or Oklahoma within 48 hours of notification. Several teams at the CDC and FDA were hit by the layoffs.

Total Layoffs by DOGE

According to a report from career services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the Department of Government Efficiency has laid off approximately 280,253 federal employees and contractors across 27 agencies.

Surprising Stat

Layoffs in March spiked by 60% nationwide, largely driven by DOGE-related cuts. Of the 275,000+ jobs lost last month, 79% (around 216,670) were due to DOGE actions.

Musk’s Response to the Mistakes

Musk, who’s faced heavy criticism for what many see as a chaotic and impulsive approach to federal downsizing, has admitted there were errors. “We are moving fast, so we will make mistakes, but we’ll also fix the mistakes very quickly,” he said during a joint press conference with Trump in the Oval Office last month.

Background

The DOGE layoffs have sparked backlash from both sides of the political aisle. Even some Republicans have voiced concerns about Musk’s aggressive and unorthodox handling of the cuts. Agencies trying to rehire employees say they’ve struggled to reach them since access to federal email accounts was immediately revoked.

Democrats have seized on the issue in special elections, turning the layoffs into a campaign talking point. GOP candidates backed by Musk’s America PAC underperformed expectations in two Florida elections, while a Democrat won a key Supreme Court race in Wisconsin.

Trump himself has suggested Musk’s future in the administration is uncertain, stating, “I’ll keep [Musk] as long as I can,” while pointing out that Musk still has Tesla to run. Musk, who is classified as a “special government employee,” can legally work only 130 days a year. Earlier this month, Trump reportedly reminded cabinet secretaries that final staffing decisions rest with them, not Musk.

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