White House reveals which agencies could be hit hardest by mass firings during government shutdown

WASHINGTON —

After days of warnings, the White House has initiated mass layoffs of federal employees during the government shutdown, an unusual step that has already prompted a lawsuit from labor unions.

The American Federation of Government Employees argues the firings represent an "illegal, unprecedented abuse of power."

In a court filing , the White House Office of Management and Budget said more than 4,000 employees would be fired. The document includes a list of estimated layoffs by agency, but emphasizes that the situation is "fluid" and the numbers are "subject to change."

Typically, during a shutdown, government employees are furloughed temporarily, not permanently fired. The Trump administration has said that layoffs are necessary to save money during the lapse in federal fu