On Friday, the White House announced that it has initiated layoffs of federal employees amid a growing threat of a government reduction in force (RIF) due to the ongoing shutdown.
“RIF has begun,” stated Russell Vought, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, on the social platform X.
A spokesperson from the OMB confirmed that layoffs are underway and mentioned they are “significant,” but didn’t specify numbers or which agencies are impacted.
Earlier, the White House hinted that the layoffs could involve thousands of employees, with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported among those affected.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) noted that employees “across multiple departments” received layoff notices because of the shutdown led by Democrats.
“All HHS employees notified of their reduction in force have been deemed non-essential by their departments,” added the HHS. They also indicated a push to eliminate wasteful organizations that clash with the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative from the Trump administration.
Additionally, the Department of Education acknowledged that some staff would be impacted by layoffs but didn’t provide numbers.
These layoffs might lead to legal challenges.
“America’s unions will see you in court,” the AFL-CIO remarked on X.
The White House has been using the threat of layoffs and government cuts as leverage, encouraging Democrats to align with Republicans in voting to reopen the government.
In the context of previous shutdowns, federal employees have typically been furloughed rather than laid off until operations resume.
On Tuesday, President Trump remarked on the layoffs, saying, “If they continue like this, they’re going to be significant. And many of those jobs will never come back.”
On Thursday, he stated his administration is pondering cuts to “Democrat programs.”
“That’s how it works. This is what they wanted,” Trump noted.
Democrats and unions representing federal workers have criticized the government’s approach, suggesting that using employees as a negotiation tool is wrong. Some Republicans have, however, supported the White House’s decision to postpone dismissals despite the threats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D., commented on Friday, just before Vought’s announcement, that he believed the White House had paused actions for ten days in hopes Senate Democrats would act to fund the government.
“But now, people are starting to lose paychecks, and this is real,” Thune said. “My prediction is yes, they’re going to have to make some decisions about where the money goes, which agencies and departments will be affected, which programs, which employees. That’s the essence of the shutdown.”
Democrats are firmly insisting that Republicans agree to extend Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the year’s end, potentially leading to increased insurance premiums.
Republican leaders insist they won’t discuss healthcare until the government reopens.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration laid off thousands of federal workers as part of a cost-cutting strategy led by the Department of Government Efficiency, with Elon Musk having retired as a special civil servant in May.
