Unemployment claims in Washington, D.C., have risen sharply since President Donald Trump took office, with nearly 4,000 federal workers laid off as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, conducts audits and job cuts.
According to reports, unemployment claims in D.C. have soared by 55% in the first six weeks of the year, with 7,000 filings recorded in that period. Just last week, 1,780 claims were filed, a staggering 36% jump from the previous week and more than four times the claims recorded around the same period in 2024.
This sharp rise in claims stands in stark contrast to the national unemployment trend, where filings have remained steady. The four-week moving average for claims across the U.S. sits at 216,000, a number that has remained relatively unchanged and even trended lower over recent months.
The layoffs in Washington stem from the administration’s ongoing effort to streamline the federal government. The DOGE advisory board, spearheaded by Musk, has ordered workforce reductions across multiple government agencies while offering early retirement buyout programs as part of the restructuring.
There are currently 2.4 million federal employees, excluding postal workers, with nearly one-fifth of them based in the D.C. metro area. For decades, that number has remained largely unchanged, except for seasonal fluctuations during tax season. Now, Trump’s administration is taking a different approach, aiming to trim what many conservatives see as an over-bloated bureaucracy in need of reform.
The restructuring efforts aren’t slowing down. Reports indicate that DOGE personnel arrived at the Pentagon on Friday, signaling that even the Department of Defense may see staffing reductions under the new efficiency-driven agenda.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the arrival of DOGE staff, stating, “We welcome DOGE to the Pentagon.”
With the administration focused on reducing federal waste, additional layoffs are expected in the coming months as the Trump-Musk initiative reshapes the government workforce.