Title: Federal Worker Firings Begin Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Content: WASHINGTON — The White House budget office announced on Friday that mass firings of federal workers have commenced as the government shutdown entered its 10th day. This move is seen as an effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers. Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed on social media that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at decreasing the federal workforce. A spokesperson for the budget office described the reductions as “substantial” but did not provide specific numbers.

Employees from various departments, including Education, Treasury, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency, are expected to receive layoff notices. This aggressive action by the budget office marks a significant escalation in the already tense relationship between the White House and Congress. Negotiations to resolve the shutdown have stalled, with typical furloughs for federal workers not being the norm this time. Approximately 750,000 employees are anticipated to be furloughed during the shutdown.

Some Republican leaders have criticized the administration's decision. Maine Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated, “I strongly oppose OMB Director Russ Vought’s attempt to permanently lay off federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown.” Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski described the timing of the announcement as “poorly timed” and indicative of the administration’s punitive approach toward federal employees.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer placed the blame for the layoffs squarely on Trump. He remarked, “Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this. They don’t have to do it; they want to. They’re callously choosing to hurt people — the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos.”

Prior to the shutdown, the White House instructed federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans for review. These plans could affect federal programs that lack funding during a shutdown and are deemed inconsistent with the President’s priorities. The Education Department has already begun layoffs, with reports indicating that nearly all employees below the director level at the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education are being let go. Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has also seen firings, which the Department of Homeland Security attributed to a need to refocus the agency’s mission.

Federal health workers are also facing layoffs, although specific details on the number of affected employees have not been disclosed. A spokesperson for the EPA attributed the firings to the Democrats, stating they could vote to reopen the government at any time. The American Federation of Government Employees, representing federal workers, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the firings, claiming they are an abuse of power intended to intimidate workers and pressure Congress. AFGE President Everett Kelley condemned the actions, stating, “It is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country.”

Democrats have challenged the legality of the firings, suggesting that the administration's actions could be unlawful. Trump had previously indicated that significant job cuts could occur within days, stating, “If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back.”

As the shutdown continues, the Capitol remains quiet, with both the House and Senate out of session. Senate Republicans have attempted to persuade Democratic members to support a stopgap bill to reopen the government, but Democrats are holding out for a commitment to extend health care benefits. Some Republicans have expressed that the threat of mass layoffs has hindered bipartisan discussions.

Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, asserted that the shutdown does not grant Trump or Vought special powers to lay off workers, stating, “This is nothing new, and no one should be intimidated by these crooks.” Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to sway centrist Democrats as the shutdown continues.

The Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization, reported that over 200,000 civil servants have left their positions since the beginning of the Trump administration due to firings, retirements, and deferred resignations. Max Stier, the organization’s president and CEO, warned that these layoffs would further weaken the federal government and diminish its ability to serve the public effectively.