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President Donald Trump is making it clear that his push for a leaner, more efficient government won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Speaking from the Oval Office last month, Trump took aim at federal employees he claims are collecting government paychecks while working second and even third jobs on the side.
“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.”
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.
Labor economist Christopher Taber points to two key reasons behind the rise of multiple jobholders.
“One story is that people are short of cash, and they need extra hours and the only way to pick up extra hours is by picking up a short-term job. Another story is that it’s easier to work two jobs now than it was before,” he explained.
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.
Trump has already taken steps to rein in remote work for government employees. On his first day in office, he ordered all executive branch departments and agencies to “take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis.”
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.
However, while real estate investing has clear benefits, being a landlord comes with challenges. Managing a property involves finding and screening tenants, collecting rent, and handling maintenance and repair requests (out of your own pocket) — and that’s assuming you can save enough for a downpayment and get a mortgage to buy the property in the first place.
The good news? These days, you don’t need to buy a property outright to reap the benefits of real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms, for example, allow everyday investors to own shares in rental properties without the large down payments or management headaches traditionally associated with real estate ownership.
Alternatively, real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide another avenue for those looking to gain exposure to this asset class.
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, and past performance isn’t a guarantee of future results. When buying a dividend stock, don’t just focus on its payout or yield. Take the time to understand the company’s business fundamentals, and if you’re following Buffett’s lead, look for companies with durable competitive advantages.
High-yield savings accounts
High-yield savings accounts offer a low-risk way to generate passive income while keeping your funds accessible. These accounts typically offer much higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, allowing your money to grow without needing to lock it away in long-term investments. This option is ideal for those who want a secure, liquid source of passive income with minimal effort or risk.
These days, some banks and financial institutions are offering high-yield savings accounts that pay up to 4.5%.
In the U.S., most savings accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. This insurance provides protection to depositors in the event that the bank fails, ensuring that their funds are safe and accessible.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
