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Story summary
- U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration paid $9.5 billion to federal employees for unused leave in 2025.
- The Government Accountability Office reported a 435 percent rise in paid leave use during the first year of Trump’s second term.
- Outside experts have not independently confirmed the administration’s claim of over $200 billion in savings.
- The federal deficit rose after Trump’s return, partly because of the Iran war and 2025 tax cuts.