The White House budget office announced on Friday that the termination of numerous federal employees has commenced, a move by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers during the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 10th day.
Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, indicated via the social media platform X that the implementation of reduction-in-force plans, known as RIFs, has begun with the objective of downsizing the federal government.
A court filing revealed that more than 4,000 employees are expected to be terminated, although the budget office highlighted that the funding situation is continuously changing. The Treasury Department faces the largest impact, with over 1,400 job cuts, followed by the Health and Human Services Department, which anticipates a reduction of more than 1,100 employees. Additionally, the Education Department, Housing and Urban Development, as well as several other departments such as Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency, are also set to dismiss hundreds of staff members.
This unprecedented move by the budget office escalates the political tension between the White House and Congress amid the shutdown, a situation where discussions to resolve the impasse are virtually non-existent.
In a departure from the usual practice during a government shutdown, where furloughed workers are reinstated with back pay, about 750,000 employees are likely to face furloughs. President Trump has directed the Defense Department to utilize all available funds to ensure that military personnel receive their pay despite the shutdown.
During a statement in the Oval Office, Trump hinted at significant job losses concentrating on areas aligned with the Democratic Party without providing specific details. This decision faced criticism from prominent Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski, who condemned the administration’s actions towards federal employees.
The White House had proactively instructed federal agencies to submit reduction-in-force plans before the shutdown began, targeting programs that do not align with the President’s priorities. The Education Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have already initiated layoffs, with further job cuts anticipated across the federal workforce.
The American Federation of Government Employees filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, labeling the firings as an abuse of power to coerce Congress and penalize workers. The group sought legal intervention to halt the job terminations, emphasizing the critical services provided by affected employees.
Democrats challenged the legality of the firings, suggesting they may be unlawful. Trump hinted at additional job cuts in the near future, reinforcing the uncertainty surrounding the fate of federal employees amidst the government shutdown.