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WASHINGTON — The US Government Shutdown Firings have begun, as the White House moves to pressure Democrats in the escalating budget standoff.
Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on X that “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans. He said the move aims to trim the federal workforce and align it with President Trump’s priorities. A spokesperson confirmed that the layoffs are “substantial,” though details remain limited.
Key Agencies Hit by Layoffs
The U.S. Education Department confirmed fresh job cuts on Friday. When Trump took office, it had about 4,100 employees. That number dropped sharply in his first months and now stands around 2,500.
Federal health workers also received firing notices, though the Department of Health and Human Services has not disclosed how many were affected. Meanwhile, Treasury Department officials expect 1,300 employees to lose their jobs, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Layoffs also reached the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which protects federal systems from digital and physical threats, according to sources familiar with the situation.
A New Tactic in the Shutdown Battle
Unlike typical shutdowns where workers are temporarily furloughed, the US Government Shutdown Firings are permanent. The White House ordered every agency to submit layoff plans before the Oct. 1 shutdown began. Trump said earlier this week that many of the eliminated jobs “will never come back” if the shutdown continues.
Democrats, however, argue the mass firings are illegal and politically motivated. Senator Patty Murray called the move “an abuse of power,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the president of creating “deliberate chaos.”
Legal Pushback and Growing Tensions
The AFGE filed for a restraining order on Friday to halt the layoffs, calling them a “disgraceful” attempt to punish workers and pressure Congress. Meanwhile, talks in Washington remain frozen. Both the House and Senate are adjourned, with no sign of compromise between party leaders.
Nonpartisan group Partnership for Public Service warned that over 200,000 civil servants have already left since Trump took office. The group’s president, Max Stier, said the cuts “hollow out government capacity and weaken public service.”
Read more on PhoenixQ about Trump’s shutdown strategy and political standoff
