WASHINGTON — Federal health employees are being fired as the White House makes good on a promise to terminate federal employees en masse as the second week of the government shutdown drags to a close.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services on Friday confirmed to STAT that the firings, known as reductions in force, had hit the department, but did not specify which agencies were affected or how many people would be let go. During a Thursday cabinet meeting, President Trump said the firings would impact “Democrat” programs, as Republicans put the blame for the shutdown on their Democratic colleagues.

“HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown. HHS under the Biden ad

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