The Office of Management and Budget in the White House announced on Friday that the administration has initiated large-scale layoffs of federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown. This move is seen as a tactic to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the shutdown enters its 10th day.
Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed on social media that the reduction-in-force plans, known as RIFs, have been put into action to downsize the federal government workforce. The budget office disclosed in a court filing that over 4,000 employees are set to be terminated, with the exact numbers subject to change due to the evolving funding situation.
The planned firings will predominantly impact the Treasury Department, with more than 1,400 job cuts, and the Health and Human Services Department, which is expected to lose over 1,100 positions. Additionally, the Education Department, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency, are all slated to dismiss hundreds of employees, although specific programs affected remain unclear.
This unprecedented move by the Trump administration amidst the government shutdown further intensifies the strained relationship between the White House and Congress, with little progress made in shutdown negotiations. Typically, furloughed federal workers are reinstated with back pay once the shutdown ends, but approximately 750,000 employees are facing furloughs during this prolonged shutdown.
President Trump has directed the Defense Department to utilize all available funds to ensure that military personnel receive their pay despite the government shutdown. In a statement, Trump indicated that the firings would target areas aligned with the Democratic Party, without providing specific details.
The decision to lay off federal workers has drawn criticism from leading Republicans, with Senator Susan Collins condemning the administration’s actions as unnecessary and detrimental to the federal workforce. Senator Lisa Murkowski labeled the announcement as ill-timed and reflective of punitive measures towards federal employees, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer placed blame on Trump for the impending layoffs.
The White House had foreshadowed these actions before the shutdown began, instructing federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans for review. The Education Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have already commenced layoffs, with CISA facing challenges from the Trump administration over its initiatives related to the 2020 election and the pandemic.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has filed a lawsuit against the administration over the firings, alleging an abuse of power and seeking to halt the dismissals. AFGE President Everett Kelley criticized the administration for exploiting the shutdown to terminate workers providing essential services nationwide.
Democrats have raised concerns about the legality of the firings and attempted to challenge the administration’s actions. Despite initial hesitancy, the White House has now signaled further job cuts within days if the shutdown persists, with Trump warning that some positions may never be reinstated.
