Turnaround at the GSA: Federal Workers Invited Back Amid Staffing Crisis

Sun Oct 19 2025 20:23:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a surprising move, the General Services Administration (GSA) has requested the return of hundreds of federal employees recently laid off as part of cost-cutting measures, highlighting the challenges faced by the agency.

The GSA has issued a notice inviting hundreds of federal employees laid off during a cost-reduction campaign to return to work, following a tumultuous period of significant job cuts that left the agency understaffed. The move emphasizes the backlash against aggressive downsizing initiated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Critics argue that these cost-cutting measures have done more harm than good.

MIAMI (AP) — In a surprising turnaround, the General Services Administration (GSA) has reached out to hundreds of federal employees who lost their jobs amid Elon Musk’s cost-cutting blitz, asking them to return to work. According to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press, these employees, who managed government workspaces, must decide whether to accept reinstatement by the end of the week. Those who accept are expected to report for duty on October 6, after a seven-month paid hiatus.

During their absence, the GSA has incurred significant costs, often passed on to taxpayers, to maintain numerous properties whose leases were prematurely set to terminate or allowed to expire. Former GSA official Chad Becker reported that the agency has been operating in a state of emergency due to severe understaffing, resulting from the wave of layoffs.

“Ultimately, the outcome was that the agency was left broken and understaffed,” Becker remarked, highlighting the chaotic state within the GSA brought on by the abrupt downsizing tactics employed by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Rehiring Amid Agency Challenges

Established in the 1940s to centralize federal workplace management, the GSA has faced mounting pressure to reinstate employees, mirroring similar rehiring efforts underway in various federal agencies. Last month, the IRS welcomed back some workers who opted for resignation packages. The Labor Department has also reinstated staff who took buyouts, and the National Park Service previously returned several purged employees.

In March, the GSA saw a mass exodus of thousands of employees due to incentives encouraging early retirement or resignation. Many others were laid off as part of a strategic reduction of the federal workforce. While the dismissed employees were instructed not to report, they still received pay for the duration of their absence.

A spokesperson for the GSA stated that the agency's leadership is actively reviewing workforce actions and making necessary adjustments to serve both customer agencies and U.S. taxpayers efficiently.

Critics of the Trump administration’s draconian cost-cutting strategies, including Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona, argue that these measures have failed to deliver any actual savings, leading to costly confusion and service degradation for taxpayers.

The GSA was identified as a primary target for reductions by DOGE, which aimed to cut down on federal fraud and waste. Initiatives like the ambitious plan to terminate nearly half of the GSA's leases faced backlash, resulting in many leases being spared termination.

Despite claims of substantial savings from lease cancellations, estimates have dwindled significantly. After aggressive cuts that allegedly reduced GSA's staff by up to 79%, the fallout has left numerous leases vacated without proper management, exposing taxpayers to undue costs.

The Government Accountability Office is currently investigating the management of GSA’s workforce and activities related to lease terminations, with findings expected to be published in the coming months.