The White House budget office has confirmed that the termination of federal employees has commenced, in a move by President Donald Trump’s administration to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers amid the ongoing government shutdown, now in its tenth day.
Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on social media that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at downsizing the federal government.
A court filing revealed that over 4,000 employees are set to be let go, with the Treasury Department expected to lose more than 1,400 employees and the Health and Human Services Department facing a reduction of over 1,100 staff members. Additionally, the Education Department, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also experience significant layoffs.
This move by the budget office significantly surpasses the usual procedures during a government shutdown and exacerbates the already strained relationship between the White House and Congress, with little progress in shutdown resolution talks.
While traditionally furloughed federal workers are reinstated with back pay once the shutdown ends, approximately 750,000 employees are expected to be furloughed during this period. President Trump has directed the Defense Department to utilize all available funds to ensure that U.S. troops are paid, despite the shutdown.
The White House had hinted at these actions before the shutdown began, directing federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans for review. These plans may apply to programs not funded during a government shutdown and not aligned with the President’s priorities.
Departments such as Education and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have already initiated layoffs, with the latter facing scrutiny for its work countering misinformation related to the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that layoffs at CISA were intended to refocus the agency on its core mission.
Various agencies, including Health and Human Services and the EPA, are also undergoing layoffs. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is suing the administration over these firings, with AFGE president Everett Kelley condemning the layoffs as an abuse of power.
Democrats have raised concerns regarding the legality of the firings, while the administration has indicated the possibility of further job cuts in the coming days as the shutdown persists.
