The Trump administration has begun laying off thousands of federal workers in an effort to pressure Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown.
The RIFs have begun, White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought announced in a post on X on Friday morning, referring to an acronym for reductions in force.
A spokesman for his office confirmed the cuts had started and were substantial. Their size and scope began coming into focus later on Friday when the administration disclosed that seven agencies had started laying off more than 4,000 workers.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use the shutdown to further his long-held goal of reducing the federal workforce.
By law, the federal government must give its workers at least 30 days' notice that it is laying them off. After Vought's tweet, major departments such as Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed they were issuing notices to employees, while Homeland Security mentioned layoffs at its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Vought's announced plans to carry out layoffs during the shutdown.
In its opposition to the temporary restraining order, lawyers for the Office of Management and Budget revealed which agencies and how many of their employees would be affected first, indicating that approximately 4,600 employees would receive RIF notices starting on Friday.
Among those affected, the Treasury Department alone was set to notify around 1,446 employees, while HHS was contacting between 1,100 and 1,200. Both the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development intended to lay off at least 400 employees each, with cuts in other departments ranging from 176 to 315 workers.
The layoffs mark an unprecedented shift; in past shutdowns, furloughed employees returned to work retroactively paid when the government reopened. Yet this time, both furloughed and “essential” workers are not paid during the funding lapse.
The current shutdown began 10 days ago after lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump and Vought of creating intentional chaos, while Republicans blamed Democrats for the shutdown.
This shutdown's effects are widespread, impacting about 40% of the federal workforce, which translates to around 750,000 workers. As the situation evolves, Trump and Vought’s goal of significantly reduced federal employment remains a priority, presenting challenges for the unions and the ongoing negotiations in Congress.
