Thousands of former federal employees in Washington, D.C., are now searching for work after President Donald Trump’s administration moved forward with mass layoffs. Since the start of the year, unemployment claims in the nation’s capital have spiked 55%, with nearly 7,000 workers filing for benefits in the past six weeks.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has been tasked with reducing waste and downsizing federal agencies. With thousands of government workers losing their jobs, the impact is rippling across D.C.’s economy. The city’s housing market is now seeing an uptick in listings, as many laid-off employees try to offload properties they can no longer afford.

BREAKING: Unemployment filings in Washington, D.C., are skyrocketing right now. Filings have increased by 36% compared to two weeks ago.

The D.C. real estate market is also in shock, with many homes going up for sale at lower prices.

FIRE THEM ALL, Mr. President. pic.twitter.com/P1cMrS4zqt

— George (@BehizyTweets) February 16, 2025

D.C.’s unemployment rate was already high before Trump took office, sitting at 5.5% in December. The surrounding metro area had a much lower rate at 2.7%, showing how reliant the city itself is on federal jobs. The Trump administration’s workforce reductions, including a hiring freeze and early retirement incentives, have forced thousands of government workers out of their long-held positions.

https://twitter.com/NeilMcCoyWard/status/1892364575636586736

While federal job losses are mounting, national unemployment numbers remain steady, with the overall rate dropping slightly from 4.1% in December to 4% in January. The contrast highlights just how dependent D.C. has been on taxpayer-funded employment.

https://twitter.com/PatrioticPizzas/status/1891199846867927048

Critics of the cuts argue that many workers will struggle to find new jobs in the private sector, but others see the shift as long overdue. Trump’s administration has positioned the layoffs as a necessary correction to years of unchecked government expansion.

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1891145455498600812

With federal payrolls shrinking, former bureaucrats are now facing the same job market conditions as private-sector workers across the country.

https://twitter.com/AntiWokeWar_/status/1890985845475176934