It seems that AI is better that this stuff than humans. I asked here, got one answer that seemed unreliable.

So asked Perplexity.ai

What Has Happened to People Fired by DOGE?

Thousands of federal workers were abruptly fired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, as part of a sweeping initiative to shrink the federal workforce and cut government spending. The affected employees include both probationary workers and others across more than two dozen federal agencies
. The scale of the layoffs is significant: at least 24,000 federal probationary employees were fired, and estimates for total job losses—including buyouts and contractor cuts—range from 100,000 to over half a million in high-layoff scenarios

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Legal Challenges and Reinstatement

A substantial portion of these firings has been challenged in court. An independent federal oversight agency declared the mass firing of probationary workers unlawful, prompting a federal judge to order the reinstatement of about 16,000 employees. However, the Trump administration has appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court, leaving many workers in limbo as they await the outcome

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Are They Finding Other Jobs?
Job Market Difficulties

Many of those fired have struggled to find new employment, particularly in the private sector. The job market for white-collar professionals—where most of these federal workers fit—has softened, with employer demand down since the pandemic. Many report repeated rejections, lengthy interview processes, and even resorting to gig work or starting small businesses to make ends meet

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“Nonstop rejection,” said one former CDC employee. “It’s three rounds of interviews and a writing sample only to get ghosted.” To make ends meet, he started a pressure-washing business

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Job applications from former federal employees have surged dramatically, especially among those from agencies targeted by DOGE. However, the influx of highly educated candidates into a weak job market has made competition fierce, and opportunities remain limited

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State Initiatives and Support

Some states are actively trying to recruit these displaced federal workers. For example, New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched a "You’re Hired" initiative to attract former DOGE-fired employees to state jobs, emphasizing the value of their public service skills. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also encouraged laid-off federal workers to seek jobs in the state, highlighting the availability of over 250,000 open positions

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Uncertainty for Many

Many affected workers are still waiting for legal decisions regarding their potential reinstatement and, in some cases, are receiving severance pay. This uncertainty has delayed job searches for some, while others have begun to reskill or consider career changes due to the challenging employment landscape

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Summary Table: Fate of DOGE-Fired Workers
Outcome Details
Awaiting Legal Resolution Many are in limbo, hoping for court-ordered reinstatement
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Struggling in Job Market Facing high competition and low demand for white-collar roles, many report difficulty
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State Recruitment Efforts States like NY and VA are actively recruiting these workers for public sector jobs
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Career Changes & Gig Work Some have started small businesses or are considering reskilling due to job market woes
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Conclusion

Most people fired by DOGE have not yet found stable new jobs. While some are pursuing opportunities in other states or starting over in different fields, a large number remain in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the outcome of legal battles that could see them reinstated to their former positions
. The mass layoffs have created a challenging environment for these workers, both professionally and personally.