The White House budget office announced on Friday that significant terminations of federal employees have commenced. This move is part of the Trump administration’s strategy to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 10th day.
Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed via a social media platform that the initiation of Reduction in Force (RIF) plans has begun to downsize the federal government workforce. A court filing revealed that over 4,000 employees are slated for dismissal, with the exact numbers subject to change due to the evolving funding situation.
The impending job cuts will impact various departments severely, with the Treasury Department facing the loss of over 1,400 employees and the Health and Human Services Department set to let go of more than 1,100 staff members. Other departments, such as Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are also expected to reduce their workforce, although specific program impacts remain unclear.
This action by the White House represents an unprecedented escalation during a government shutdown, further intensifying the strained relationship between the executive branch and Congress, where discussions to end the shutdown have stalled. Typically, furloughed federal workers are reinstated with back pay once the shutdown concludes, but approximately 750,000 employees are anticipated to be furloughed during this period.
In response to the looming job cuts, some prominent Republicans have criticized the administration’s decision. Senator Susan Collins from Maine denounced the layoffs as unnecessary consequences of the shutdown, attributing blame to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska described the timing of the firings as inappropriate and reflective of punitive actions toward federal employees by the administration.
Meanwhile, President Trump defended the move, emphasizing that the dismissals would primarily affect areas aligned with Democratic interests. The administration’s announcement of permanent layoffs has sparked controversy and condemnation from various political figures, with Democrats and union representatives voicing objections and legal challenges against the firings.
As the situation unfolds, the White House had previously instructed federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans before the shutdown commenced. The Education Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have already begun issuing layoff notices, with DHS emphasizing the need to realign CISA’s focus. Health and Human Services, as well as the EPA, are also undergoing staff reductions, with blame being placed on Democrats for the firings.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has taken legal action against the administration, seeking to halt the layoffs and labeling the move as an abuse of power. The uncertainty surrounding the job cuts has raised concerns about the long-term impact on the federal workforce, with Trump hinting at further reductions in the coming days.
