Hundreds of Federal Workers Fired in Musk-Era Cuts Asked to Return

Hundreds of federal employees who lost their jobs during Elon Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting campaign are now being asked to return. According to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press, the General Services Administration (GSA) has given the workers—who were responsible for managing federal office spaces—until the end of the week to decide whether to accept reinstatement. Those who return must report back to work on October 6.

The move comes after months of disruption at GSA, which has struggled to function after major staff cuts and early retirement offers. “Ultimately, the agency was left broken and understaffed,” said Chad Becker, a former GSA official now representing landlords with government leases. “They didn’t have the people to carry out basic functions.”

GSA, created in the 1940s to manage federal buildings and office space, was hit hard by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk. In March, thousands of employees either resigned or were let go as part of DOGE’s plan to shrink the federal workforce. Many of those who were laid off continued to receive pay despite not working.

DOGE also ordered GSA to sell hundreds of federally owned buildings and cancel leases, aiming to save billions. The agency sent over 800 lease cancellation notices to landlords—often without informing federal tenants. It also released a list of properties it planned to sell.

The downsizing drew swift backlash. Since then, more than 480 leases once targeted for termination have been spared, and many of the planned sales have been paused. According to a federal official, 131 leases expired without the government actually vacating the buildings, leading to costly penalties as landlords couldn’t lease the spaces to others.

The financial savings initially projected by DOGE have also been significantly reduced. A “Wall of Receipts” maintained by the agency once claimed lease cancellations would save nearly $460 million. As of July, that estimate had dropped to just $140 million.

The GSA’s move to rehire former staff follows similar reversals at other agencies affected by DOGE’s cuts. The IRS, Labor Department, and National Park Service have all reinstated some employees who took early retirement or buyouts.

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