Business Daily Life after DOGE
Jan 19, 2026
Twelve months into Trump's second term, the podcast unpacks the turmoil within the US workforce. The controversial DOGE initiative, led by Elon Musk, aimed to tackle federal waste, yet resulted in widespread cuts and job losses. Personal stories emerge, from sudden firings at the Veterans Affairs to struggles for stable private-sector jobs. The impact on worker rights comes into sharp focus, raising concerns over protections and economic security. Republican views praise DOGE's efficiency, contrasting sharply with testimonies of uncertainty and fear among government employees.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Veterans Fired Then Reinstated
- Andrew Lennox, a US Marine veteran working at the Department of Veterans Affairs, was abruptly fired under DOGE and later reinstated after legal and media pressure.
- He received back pay but described sudden mass firings that left employees and veterans harmed.
Ranger Took Payoff, Struggled To Rehire
- Park ranger Mark Cohn took a deferred resignation payoff after being told his role was likely to be cut and has since applied to over 200 jobs with few interviews.
- He says union protections and clear guidance vanished, making the transition and job search extremely difficult.
Large Cuts, Small Fiscal Impact
- Around 335,000 federal employees left between January and November, mostly quitting or retiring, with only about 11,000 fired.
- Cutting 9% of federal staff made little dent in federal spending because worker pay is a small share of the $7 trillion budget.