DOGE Dominates Job Cuts

Marking the highest monthly total job cuts since the COVID pandemic, a new Challenger, Gray, & Christmas. Inc. report chronicles the impact of DOGE layoffs.

By the numbers:

• U.S. employers’ March 2025 job cuts resulted in a 205% increase over March 2024. 

• DOGE layoff of federal workers and contractors represented a large part of the total layoffs, responsible for 280,253 over the last two months.

• The DOGE downstream effect impacting nonprofits and health care, added 4,429 job cuts.

What we're watching: The influence of tariffs on job security may be the next area to watch. So far this year, 63 layoffs, all in retail, have been specifically attributed tariffs.