Trump Administration Initiates ‘Substantial’ Reductions in Force; Budget Director Cites Democratic Impasse.
The Trump administration has initiated the process of laying off federal workers, formally known as “reductions in force” (RIFs), amidst an ongoing government shutdown that has entered its 10th day.
The move fulfills earlier threats by the administration to use the shutdown to permanently reduce the size of the federal workforce.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought confirmed the start of the layoffs on Friday, posting tersely on social media: “The RIFs have begun.”
An OMB spokesperson later confirmed that the reduction process was “substantial” but declined to provide precise figures on the total number of affected employees. However, a court filing by the administration indicated that approximately 4,200 employees across seven agencies were set to receive layoff notices, including significant cuts at the Departments of the Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS).
The White House, which has blamed Democratic lawmakers for the shutdown, framed the layoffs as a consequence of the impasse and a continuation of its push to shrink the scope of the federal bureaucracy. Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, confirmed the departmental impact, stating:
”HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown.”
The actions have drawn swift criticism from federal labor unions, which have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of mass layoffs during a government shutdown. Labour groups argue that the action is a political tactic that destabilizes critical government functions and unfairly targets dedicated civil servants.
Despite the initiation of RIFs, agency officials have been advised that layoff plans may be revised if the government reopens before the mandatory 60-day notice period for employee termination expires.
