WASHINGTON - Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought posted on social media Friday afternoon that previously threatened federal layoffs have started.

"The RIFs have begun," posted Vought on Friday.

What we know:

Trump administration officials said furloughed federal health workers are being fired "as a direct consequence" of the government shutdown, but they did not say how many or which agencies were being hit hardest.

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed the terminations in an email Friday, saying everyone receiving a notice was designated as non-essential, AP reports.

"HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda," said the sp

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