Planned job cuts announced by U.S. employers surged by 245% in February to 172,017, the highest level seen since the COVID-19 downturn in July 2020 and the steepest February total in 16 years, according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Government layoffs accounted for a significant portion of the job cuts, with 62,242 positions announced across 17 federal agencies. In total, about 62,530 federal employees were laid off during the first two months of the year—a dramatic increase compared to the same period in 2024. Andrew Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, warned that mass layoffs often leave remaining staff feeling uneasy and could lead to additional voluntary departures.
A key factor behind the surge in layoffs has been the aggressive cost-cutting drive led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative reportedly championed by tech billionaire Elon Musk and supported by the Trump administration. The DOGE effort has resulted in deep spending cuts, funding freezes, and the dismissal of thousands of federal workers, including specialists such as scientists and game rangers. The initiative has also affected federal contractors, as companies facing tariffs and other trade disruptions have extended their workforce reductions.
Challenger attributed 63,583 of the layoffs directly to the "DOGE impact," with an additional 894 job cuts linked to downstream effects such as reduced funding for private non-profits. The majority of the federal layoffs have been concentrated in Washington, D.C.—a region that has lost 61,795 jobs so far this year, compared with only 60 in 2024.
Outside of the public sector, job cuts were also reported in retail, technology, services, and consumer products industries. Although these federal workforce reductions will not immediately be reflected in February's employment report, scheduled for release on Friday, the ongoing hiring and funding freezes could influence government and contractor employment in the coming months. A Reuters survey of economists estimated that nonfarm payrolls increased by 160,000 jobs after a January rise of 143,000, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.0%.
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that American strikes caused “very severe” damage to Iranian nuclear sites, despite leaked intelligence reports suggesting otherwise.
The United States is not planning to impose additional sanctions on Russia for now, aiming instead to keep diplomatic channels open to pursue a peace deal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is now "much further away from a nuclear weapon" following recent U.S. airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites, contradicting reports that the damage only caused minor delays.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 25th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
The EU is moving to simplify and unify its space policy with a landmark proposal—the EU Space Act aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global space economy and establishing a single, streamlined market for space services.
China has surpassed its 2030 renewable energy target six years ahead of schedule and now leads the world in clean energy investment, innovation, and deployment, transforming itself into a global powerhouse in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
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A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
U.S. mortgage interest rates saw slight changes last week as applications for refinancing increased, even though home purchase applications dipped.
Victor Arthein, a senior figure in the Guadeloupe Communist Party, has urged the territory to pursue political and economic independence from France, citing deep-rooted structural dependence and declining sovereignty.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Ukraine faces a massive housing crisis as the ongoing war leaves over 2.5 million homes damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction efforts are advancing, but the road ahead remains long, complex, and deeply tied to economic, demographic, and security realities.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
The EU is moving to simplify and unify its space policy with a landmark proposal—the EU Space Act aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global space economy and establishing a single, streamlined market for space services.
China has surpassed its 2030 renewable energy target six years ahead of schedule and now leads the world in clean energy investment, innovation, and deployment, transforming itself into a global powerhouse in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
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