A year after the deferred resignation program, where did federal leavers go?

Of people who left 21 federal agencies in 2025, 4.9% are now in another federal executive branch job, against 19.4% of 2024 leavers, according to Live Data Technologies data.

By Alex Hamilton, Insights, with Aaron Terrazas · Published Oct 2026 · Current roles as of Sep 2026

• Now in another federal executive branch job: 19.4% of 2024 leavers, 4.9% of 2025 leavers.
• Retired: up from 7.0% to 15.4%.
• Private sector: up from 29.3% to 34.8%.

How we counted

People whose job at one of 21 federal agencies ended in 2024 or 2025, staff level and above, with each person's current role as of September 2026. A move from one of the 21 agencies to a different federal agency counts as a federal executive branch job. We compare shares of leavers, not totals, and the data says nothing about why people left.

Analysis partner

Run with Aaron Terrazas, independent and fractional economist.