WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration had started a new round of federal layoffs, as he seized on the government shutdown to cull the civil workforce and pressure Democrats into accepting his fiscal demands.

The layoffs appeared to target more than 4,000 employees across seven major federal departments, according to the administration, which revealed its plans in a filing to a federal court that is considering the legality of the cuts. That filing also hinted at the possibility of additional dismissals if the closure in Washington continues.

The Trump administration said it had targeted more than 1,400 employees at the Treasury Department, and nearly 1,200 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, where notices started to reach some worke

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