DOGE places entire federal homelessness agency staff on leave

The Department of Government Efficiency effectively shut down a small agency that coordinates homelessness policy, leaving all staff on administrative leave. The shutdown followed a Trump administration executive order.

The agency had a budget of just over $4 million and focused on managing high homelessness rates, especially among veterans.

Jeff Olivet, the agency’s last executive director, stated that the government created the agency to coordinate federal efforts to reduce homelessness efficiently.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., criticized the targeting of the agency, calling it “nonsensical” during a historic rise in housing costs and homelessness.