BETA
THIS IS A BETA EXPERIENCE. OPT-OUT&nbspHERE

Breaking

8 hours ago
Capital One-Discover Merger Cleared By DOJ: What To Know About The $35 Billion Mega Deal","scope":{"topStory":{"index":1,"title":"Capital One-Discover Merger Cleared By DOJ: What To Know About The $35 Billion Mega Deal","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ef22986097b92490c08007/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=2608&cropY1=0&cropY2=1739","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"8 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/04/03/capital-one-discover-merger-cleared-by-doj-what-to-know-about-the-35-billion-mega-deal/"}},"id":"4n8pg4qjq1ic00"},{"textContent":"
8 hours ago
Trump’s Truth Social Stake Drops $40 Million—Still Beats Market Post-Tariff","scope":{"topStory":{"index":2,"title":"Trump’s Truth Social Stake Drops $40 Million—Still Beats Market Post-Tariff","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ef06a128999729cd82f6bf/290x0.jpg?cropX1=130&cropX2=2516&cropY1=104&cropY2=1445","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"8 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2025/04/03/trump-tariffs-truth-social-media-stock-price/"}},"id":"icqn29johpc00"},{"textContent":"
9 hours ago
Trump Says He Supports Parental Proxy Voting—Which Mike Johnson Calls ‘Unconstitutional’","scope":{"topStory":{"index":3,"title":"Trump Says He Supports Parental Proxy Voting—Which Mike Johnson Calls ‘Unconstitutional’","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ef06ea9ab60663c50ec3d8/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=2779&cropY1=49&cropY2=1613","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"9 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/04/03/trump-says-he-supports-parental-proxy-voting-which-mike-johnson-calls-unconstitutional/"}},"id":"9crl6606b8pk00"},{"textContent":"
11 hours ago
Judge Boasberg Thinks There’s ‘Fair Likelihood’ Trump Administration Violated Court Order With El Salvador Flights","scope":{"topStory":{"index":4,"title":"Judge Boasberg Thinks There’s ‘Fair Likelihood’ Trump Administration Violated Court Order With El Salvador Flights","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67dc2493025ca06c73af5b08/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1375&cropY1=0&cropY2=772","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"11 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/04/03/judge-boasberg-thinks-theres-fair-likelihood-trump-administration-violated-court-order-with-el-salvador-flights/"}},"id":"d6m4c1hd1o2800"},{"textContent":"
12 hours ago
Markets Shudder At Trump’s Tariffs: S&P 500 Has Worst Day In 5 Years As Apple Stock Dives 9%","scope":{"topStory":{"index":5,"title":"Markets Shudder At Trump’s Tariffs: S&P 500 Has Worst Day In 5 Years As Apple Stock Dives 9%","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee892114894d3a5c03002c/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=2173&cropY1=30&cropY2=1251","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"12 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/04/03/markets-shudder-heres-what-stocks-are-losing-the-most-in-tariff-selloff/"}},"id":"ae6mlm2mg03c00"},{"textContent":"
12 hours ago
Here’s What Will Cost More After Trump’s Tariffs: Coffee, Cars—And Possibly A $2,300 iPhone","scope":{"topStory":{"index":6,"title":"Here’s What Will Cost More After Trump’s Tariffs: Coffee, Cars—And Possibly A $2,300 iPhone","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eea7421dd2304c228efcc7/290x0.jpg?cropX1=324&cropX2=2093&cropY1=172&cropY2=1166","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"12 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/04/03/heres-what-will-cost-more-after-trumps-tariffs-coffee-cars-and-possibly-a-2300-iphone/"}},"id":"ep7cp8nqe7hk00"},{"textContent":"
12 hours ago
Defense Department Inspector General Will Evaluate Pete Hegseth’s Role In Signal Chat","scope":{"topStory":{"index":7,"title":"Defense Department Inspector General Will Evaluate Pete Hegseth’s Role In Signal Chat","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eee51e66008a65e83b3714/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3382&cropY1=310&cropY2=2214","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"12 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/04/03/defense-department-inspector-general-will-evaluate-pete-hegseths-role-in-signal-chat/"}},"id":"66am9bd0g45400"},{"textContent":"
13 hours ago
7 Dead As ‘Catastrophic’ Storm System Slowly Moves Through South, Midwest","scope":{"topStory":{"index":8,"title":"7 Dead As ‘Catastrophic’ Storm System Slowly Moves Through South, Midwest","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eed690e36d056352fbedd7/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1626&cropY1=0&cropY2=1084","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"13 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/04/03/6-dead-as-catastrophic-storm-system-slowly-moves-through-south-midwest/"}},"id":"4n8i93bif3pk00"},{"textContent":"
13 hours ago
France’s Macron Says European Businesses Should Halt U.S. Investment—As Trump Tariffs Face Global Backlash","scope":{"topStory":{"index":9,"title":"France’s Macron Says European Businesses Should Halt U.S. Investment—As Trump Tariffs Face Global Backlash","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee46e0b10eab7a141e27f5/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=2458&cropY1=0&cropY2=1383","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"13 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/04/03/frances-macron-says-european-businesses-should-halt-us-investment-as-trump-tariffs-face-global-backlash/"}},"id":"5c00jpicik0800"},{"textContent":"
13 hours ago
Hotel Stocks Hit By Tariff Turndown","scope":{"topStory":{"index":10,"title":"Hotel Stocks Hit By Tariff Turndown","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eeccd3b2049df31921590d/290x0.jpg?cropX1=134&cropX2=4530&cropY1=0&cropY2=2472","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"13 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2025/04/03/hotel-stocks-hit-by-tariff-turndown/"}},"id":"b4b7bki6jg2800"},{"textContent":"
14 hours ago
Trump’s Tariffs Face Growing Republican Backlash: ‘Last Thing We Need’","scope":{"topStory":{"index":11,"title":"Trump’s Tariffs Face Growing Republican Backlash: ‘Last Thing We Need’","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eeb97e20f03f28f9d7b94b/0x0.jpg","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"14 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/03/trumps-tariffs-face-growing-republican-backlash-last-thing-we-need/"}},"id":"emaiddchlml400"},{"textContent":"
14 hours ago
Trump Fires NSC Officials After Meeting With Far-Right Conspiracy Theorist Laura Loomer","scope":{"topStory":{"index":12,"title":"Trump Fires NSC Officials After Meeting With Far-Right Conspiracy Theorist Laura Loomer","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eec571b7c67e19cd0a2f84/290x0.jpg?cropX1=286&cropX2=1492&cropY1=141&cropY2=819","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"14 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/04/03/trump-fires-nsc-officials-after-meeting-with-far-right-conspiracy-theorist-laura-loomer/"}},"id":"6pdelaq36ek000"},{"textContent":"
15 hours ago
White House Promises ‘No Pain’ From Tariffs—Tells Wall Street ‘Trust In President Trump’ As Stocks Tumble","scope":{"topStory":{"index":13,"title":"White House Promises ‘No Pain’ From Tariffs—Tells Wall Street ‘Trust In President Trump’ As Stocks Tumble","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eebc2969b246c04f20ee81/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3713&cropY1=0&cropY2=2086","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"15 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/04/03/white-house-promises-no-pain-from-tariffs-tells-wall-street-trust-in-president-trump-as-stocks-tumble/"}},"id":"6aric7g8n3c800"},{"textContent":"
16 hours ago
Trump’s Tariff Formula Slammed As ‘Fake’ And ‘Incredibly Stupid’ By Experts","scope":{"topStory":{"index":14,"title":"Trump’s Tariff Formula Slammed As ‘Fake’ And ‘Incredibly Stupid’ By Experts","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eeac7409d1c1836b6654bf/0x0.jpg","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"16 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/03/trumps-tariff-formula-slammed-as-fake-and-incredibly-stupid-by-experts/"}},"id":"7p2oo2ne3hoo00"},{"textContent":"
16 hours ago
Retail Stocks Sink Thursday On Fears Of Trade War","scope":{"topStory":{"index":15,"title":"Retail Stocks Sink Thursday On Fears Of Trade War","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee98508e6d7e7c01609774/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3327&cropY1=171&cropY2=2043","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"16 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/gennacontino/2025/04/03/retail-stocks-drop-thursday-morning-on-fears-of-trade-war/"}},"id":"391r77m0e08c00"},{"textContent":"
17 hours ago
U.S. Airline Stocks Nosedive In Aftermath Of Tariff Rollout","scope":{"topStory":{"index":16,"title":"U.S. Airline Stocks Nosedive In Aftermath Of Tariff Rollout","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67eea0d71eb3760221b4c322/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=4558&cropY1=235&cropY2=2797","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"17 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2025/04/03/us-airline-stocks-nosedive-in-aftermath-of-tariff-rollout/"}},"id":"1drgplohpfkq00"},{"textContent":"
17 hours ago
Nintendo Surprises With Switch 2 Price Hike—As Trump Imposes Tariffs On China And Vietnam","scope":{"topStory":{"index":17,"title":"Nintendo Surprises With Switch 2 Price Hike—As Trump Imposes Tariffs On China And Vietnam","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ed8252011ac3addd834df3/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3986&cropY1=365&cropY2=2607","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"17 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/04/03/nintendo-surprises-with-switch-2-price-hike-as-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-china-and-vietnam/"}},"id":"2462mocdih0600"},{"textContent":"
18 hours ago
Trump Doubles Down On Tariffs Amid Economic Chaos: ‘The Patient Lived, And Is Healing’","scope":{"topStory":{"index":18,"title":"Trump Doubles Down On Tariffs Amid Economic Chaos: ‘The Patient Lived, And Is Healing’","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee9074f166feca6ec1be06/0x0.jpg","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"18 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/04/03/trump-doubles-down-on-tariffs-amid-economic-chaos-the-patient-lived-and-is-healing/"}},"id":"2jmrgcoe24c400"},{"textContent":"
19 hours ago
Trump's Tariffs Tip Economy 'Perilously Close' To A Recession, Largest U.S. Bank Warns","scope":{"topStory":{"index":19,"title":"Trump's Tariffs Tip Economy 'Perilously Close' To A Recession, Largest U.S. Bank Warns","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee7dc7b9b7c0ae8af6c758/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=2686&cropY1=276&cropY2=1788","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"19 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/04/03/trumps-tariffs-tip-economy-perilously-close-to-a-recession-largest-us-bank-warns/"}},"id":"9g663n6bdcog00"},{"textContent":"
20 hours ago
New York Mayor Eric Adams Will Run For Reelection As Independent To Skip Democratic Primary","scope":{"topStory":{"index":20,"title":"New York Mayor Eric Adams Will Run For Reelection As Independent To Skip Democratic Primary","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ee79b4ad9648c335a9f9f5/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=4095&cropY1=0&cropY2=2302","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"20 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/04/03/new-york-mayor-eric-adams-will-run-for-reelection-as-independent-to-skip-democratic-primary/"}},"id":"25ei45j78ep800"},{"textContent":"
20 hours ago
Job Cuts Soared 60% In March To Highest Since Spring 2020—Almost All Because Of DOGE","scope":{"topStory":{"index":21,"title":"Job Cuts Soared 60% In March To Highest Since Spring 2020—Almost All Because Of DOGE","image":"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/67ed846be87c89632e389e29/290x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1908&cropY1=31&cropY2=1104","isHappeningNowArticle":true,"date":"20 hours ago","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/04/03/job-cuts-soared-60-in-march-to-highest-since-spring-2020-almost-all-because-of-doge/"}},"id":"ej1l3fenahkg00"}],"breakpoints":[{"breakpoint":"@media all and (max-width: 767px)","config":{"enabled":false}},{"breakpoint":"@media all and (max-width: 768px)","config":{"inView":2,"slidesToScroll":1}},{"breakpoint":"@media all and (min-width: 1681px)","config":{"inView":6}}]};
Edit Story

Job Cuts Soared 60% In March To Highest Since Spring 2020—Almost All Because Of DOGE

Following

Topline

More than 275,000 jobs were eliminated last month, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas—a 60% increase from last month’s layoffs—and the cuts were spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Key Facts

In its report, career services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said an estimated 216,670 cuts—or 79%—were made as a result of DOGE actions, with senior vice president Andrew Challenger saying, “it would have otherwise been a fairly quiet month for layoffs.”

In the last two months, the report said DOGE actions have led to 280,253 planned layoffs across 27 agencies, and another 4,429 jobs have been cut largely from nonprofits and health organizations because of “the downstream effect of cutting federal aid or ending contracts.”

Challenger estimates 497,052 job cuts were announced in the first three months of the year—the highest quarterly total since Q1 in 2009, during the Great Recession.

Outside of the government and DOGE, technology companies led job cuts in March with 15,055 announced, followed by 11,709 cuts announced in retail.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

What Is The Record For The Most Layoffs In One Month?

March had the third-most monthly job cuts recorded since Challenger began tracking in 1989. April 2020, shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw 671,129 jobs cut—the most on record—and May 2020 saw the second most when 397,016 jobs were cut. This March is the highest total on record for the month of March.

Big Number

205%. That’s how much job cuts were up this March compared to last March. There were 90,309 layoffs announced in the same month in 2024, and that was the highest monthly total recorded last year, according to the report.

Tangent

Hiring plans fell from 24,580 in February to 13,198 in March, according to the Challenger report, and first quarter new hires were down 16% from new hires announced in Q1 last year—marking the lowest Q1 hiring total since 2012.

Key Background

Last year saw the most layoffs in the last 15 years, except for 2020. About one-fifth of last year’s layoffs came from the technology sector, followed by the health care and automotive industries. In Challenger’s end-of-year report, it warned most employers were “anticipating additional uncertainty with the upcoming administration” and said that was leading to “slower hiring and more layoffs in the short term” in some sectors.

What To Watch For

How tariffs impact job cuts. Andrew Challenger said in Thursday’s report “several sectors will be impacted by tariffs going forward, including consumer, auto and retail,” all of which are “already cutting more workers than last year.”

Further Reading

Layoffs Surged In February To Highest Level Since 2020—Led By DOGE Firings (Forbes)

2024 Had Most Job Cuts In 15 Years—With One Exception (Forbes)

Follow me on TwitterSend me a secure tip

Join The Conversation

Comments 

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Read our community guidelines .

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service.  We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

  • False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
  • Spam
  • Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
  • Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
  • Content that otherwise violates our site's terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

  • Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
  • Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
  • Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
  • Actions that otherwise violate our site's terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

  • Stay on topic and share your insights
  • Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
  • ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
  • Protect your community.
  • Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's Terms of Service.