‘People are going to be fired’: Trump says ‘a lot’ of US government workers with 2nd, 3rd jobs are getting checks — but not even working. How to earn passive income without risking your job

“Nobody shows up to work because they're all, quote, working at home. They're not working at home, and a lot of them have second jobs,” Trump said.

He pointed to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency as the ones leading the charge to root out the issue.

“That's the other thing that Elon Musk is looking at. How many of these people are getting checks working at home but they're not working because they have second jobs and even third jobs?” Trump stated. “You're going to find a lot of them and those people are going to be fired because we have to make our government smaller.”

While it isn't clear where Trump got his insights on government employees working second or even multiple jobs on the side, here is what we do know about the trend.

The rise of multiple job holders

To be sure, holding multiple jobs isn’t unique to government employees — many Americans are doing it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9.04 million U.S. workers held more than one job in February 2025. That includes 5.37 million people balancing a full-time primary job with a part-time secondary job. Even more striking, 404,000 workers were juggling two full-time jobs.

With inflation still fresh in people’s minds, the high cost of living has made side hustles a necessity for many Americans. At the same time, remote work has made holding multiple jobs more feasible than ever.

Whether you work for the federal government or not, having extra income can be a game-changer — especially with experts predicting rising costs in 2025. Here’s a look at three ways to generate passive income without putting your career at risk.

Earn passive income from real estate

Real estate is a popular way to generate recurring income. When you own a rental property and tenants pay rent, you earn a steady monthly cash flow.

It’s also a popular hedge against inflation, as property values and rental income tend to rise alongside the cost of living.

Of course, purchasing a property requires significant capital — and finding the right tenant takes time and effort. But thanks to new investment options, you don’t need to own a property outright to gain exposure to real estate.

You can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.

Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allow you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.

Invest in dividend stocks

Investing in dividend stocks — shares of companies that regularly distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders — is another time-tested way to generate passive income.

Dividends are payments made to investors, typically on a quarterly basis, providing a steady income stream without requiring the sale of shares. While stock prices fluctuate, companies with a strong dividend track record allow investors to earn consistent payouts, and some even increase their dividends over time, further boosting returns.

The power of dividends has even caught Musk’s attention. Back in 2023, when reports surfaced that Berkshire Hathaway, the investment empire of legendary investor Warren Buffett, earned $704 million in dividends from its Coca-Cola holdings in one year, Musk couldn’t resist commenting on X, “Berkshire Hathaway high on Coke.”

Of course, choosing the right dividend stocks is key. If you're unsure where to start, a professional can help.