OMB director Vought warns that federal job cuts will increase significantly soon

Federal Employee Layoffs Expected to Rise

On Wednesday, White House Budget Secretary Russell Vought indicated that the number of layoffs among federal employees is anticipated to “further increase” in the near future.

Vought, who heads the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has been directing efforts to reduce the federal workforce by laying off thousands of non-essential employees during the current government shutdown. According to OMB officials, over 4,000 workers have already been issued reduction in force (RIF) notices, as reported in a court filing made Tuesday night.

However, Vought noted that the layoffs could actually escalate. He mentioned that what’s been reported is merely a snapshot, and the actual numbers may rise. “We’re definitely talking about thousands of people,” he stated. He believes the total number might be nearer to 10,000.

“A lot of the reporting is based on a specific number in court that seemed low, but we expect that figure to go up. We’ll continue these RIFs throughout the shutdown because it’s crucial for the American taxpayer. We view this as a chance to tackle some of the bureaucracy,” he remarked.

Interestingly, this comes as a federal judge in San Francisco blocked the administration from proceeding with additional furloughs, granting a temporary injunction sought by labor unions. They argued that layoffs were unlawful during the ongoing government shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston expressed concerns that the administration’s actions might be “illegal, beyond its authority, arbitrary and capricious,” highlighting the belief that the law should still apply during budget cuts.