The White House’s decision to initiate ‘substantial’ layoffs across federal agencies during the government shutdown marks a significant escalation, transforming temporary furloughs into permanent job losses and setting a new precedent for political leverage.
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing government shutdown, the White House announced on Friday that it had commenced “substantial” layoffs across various U.S. federal agencies. This move by President Donald Trump’s administration follows through on repeated threats to reduce the federal workforce, intensifying the political standoff now in its 10th day.
The ‘RIFs’ Have Begun: A New Phase of the Shutdown
White House budget director Russell Vought confirmed the start of these “reductions in force,” or RIFs, via a social media post, stating simply, “The RIFs have begun.” While the exact scope of these layoffs remains unclear, a spokesperson for the budget office characterized them as “substantial.” This action follows a broader downsizing campaign initiated earlier in the year by the Trump administration, which had already projected approximately 300,000 federal civilian workers would leave their jobs this year. These new layoffs add a permanent dimension to the shutdown’s impact, distinguishing them from traditional furloughs that typically end with employees returning to work and receiving back pay.
This aggressive step diverges significantly from typical government shutdown procedures, where federal workers are usually furloughed temporarily. The decision to initiate permanent dismissals is seen as a direct attempt to exert pressure on congressional Democrats to concede to the administration’s demands for a funding bill.
Agencies Targeted: ‘Democrat Agencies’ and Beyond
The job cuts are reportedly underway at several key departments, including the Treasury Department, the U.S. health agency (Health and Human Services – HHS), and the departments of Education, Commerce, and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division (CISA). Spokespeople confirmed layoffs at these agencies, with other media outlets also reporting cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Notably, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration were not affected.
President Trump has explicitly linked these cuts to political motivations, threatening to target “Democrat agencies” and critics of his administration. He previously ordered the freezing of at least $28 billion in infrastructure funds for New York, California, and Illinois—states with large populations of Democratic voters, as reported by Reuters, a major news agency.
Specific details emerged from various agencies:
- At HHS, communications director Andrew Nixon confirmed layoff notices were issued, primarily targeting furloughed staff. Roughly 41% of the agency’s 78,000 workers were already furloughed, including significant portions of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The Treasury Department was reportedly preparing 1,300 layoff notices, according to labor union official Thomas Huddleston of the American Federation of Government Employees. These cuts could impact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where 46% of its 78,000 employees were furloughed.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within Homeland Security also saw layoffs. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated this was “part of getting CISA back on mission,” referencing the agency’s past clashes with the Trump administration over the 2020 election integrity claims.
The Political Stalemate and Union Backlash
The current shutdown, now in its tenth day, stems from a legislative deadlock. While Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, they require at least seven Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a funding bill. Democrats are steadfastly holding out for an extension of health-insurance subsidies, refusing to yield to what Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer described as “pressure tactics.” Schumer fiercely condemned the layoffs, stating, “Until Republicans get serious, they own this – every job lost, every family hurt, every service gutted is because of their decisions,” according to reporting by The Associated Press.
Labor unions representing federal workers have swiftly responded by filing lawsuits to halt the layoffs, arguing their illegality during a shutdown. The government is legally mandated to provide workers with 60 days’ notice before layoffs, which can be shortened to 30 days. A federal judge is scheduled to hear the unions’ case on October 16.
Broader Implications for the Federal Workforce
Beyond the legal battles, these layoffs carry significant human and systemic costs. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were already working without pay or were furloughed, with many facing reduced paychecks. The situation also threatens the paychecks of the nation’s 2 million active-duty troops, who could miss their October 15 payment if the shutdown persists.
Critics, including Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have voiced strong opposition to the administration’s actions, calling them “poorly timed” and “punitive.” Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, denounced the move as an “abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.” This sentiment highlights a growing concern over the politicization of the civil service and its potential long-term damage.
The Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization, noted that more than 200,000 civil servants had already left federal service since the start of the administration due to earlier downsizing efforts. Max Stier, the organization’s president, warned that these “unnecessary and misguided reductions in force will further hollow out our federal government, rob it of critical expertise and hobble its capacity to effectively serve the public.”
The Future of Federal Service
The White House’s decision to implement substantial layoffs during a government shutdown marks a contentious and potentially transformative moment for the U.S. federal workforce. It not only deepens the immediate crisis of the shutdown but also raises profound questions about the stability, independence, and expertise of the civil service. As the legal challenges unfold and political negotiations continue, the full impact on government operations and the lives of federal employees will become increasingly clear, setting a potentially dangerous precedent for future political impasses.
