The White House declared on Friday its intention to proceed with layoffs during the ongoing government shutdown, fulfilling a previous warning.
Various government agencies have indicated that personnel have received Reduction in Force (RIF) notifications. While the exact number of employees impacted is still unclear, early estimates suggest it could reach into the thousands.
Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed that layoffs would commence on Friday, just a day after Senate attempts to pass bipartisan legislation to end the shutdown faltered.
At least some employee unions, along with certain Democrats and Republicans, are contesting these layoffs in court, arguing that they treat federal workers as political tools and jeopardize essential government services.
The agencies known to be affected include:
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that staff “across multiple departments” received layoff notices as a consequence of the shutdown spearheaded by Democrats.
HHS remarked that all employees who received RIF notifications were deemed non-essential by their respective departments. The department is also pursuing cuts to what it terms “wasteful and duplicative organizations,” aligning with the Trump Administration’s agenda to promote health.
This agency previously saw significant layoffs earlier this year as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to streamline operations, though it remains uncertain how many more will be affected due to the current closure.
Department of Homeland Security
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that layoffs would also impact personnel within its ranks.
Particularly, many working at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are slated for layoffs. The DHS spokesperson mentioned that this is a step toward returning CISA to its original mission, following a period where it was criticized for focusing on branding and electioneering under the previous administration.
The CISA has been in the spotlight since its former leader, Christopher Krebs, disputed President Trump’s assertions of widespread election fraud in 2020, leading to his removal by Trump.
Environmental Protection Agency
Personnel in the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division were informed via email about workforce reductions.
Responding to questions about the layoffs, an EPA spokesperson lamented that the government shutdown, instigated by Democrats, resulted in this unfortunate outcome, suggesting they could choose to reopen the government if desired.
As per a contingency plan, about 89 percent of EPA staff were anticipated to be furloughed during the shutdown. Earlier in June, the EPA admitted to having reduced its workforce by over 700 employees since January.
Department of Education
A representative from the Department of Education informed that employees are affected by the RIF, though they did not specify how many.
This department had previously faced mass layoffs due to an executive order issued by President Trump earlier this year, which resulted in the termination of approximately half its workforce, leading to legal challenges.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Officials confirmed that layoffs would also impact HUD employees, but did not provide specific details about the number or which offices would be affected.
