The Trump administration has officially commenced the process of laying off federal workers as the ongoing government shutdown continues to create political turmoil. Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced via X that the Reduction in Force (RIF) measures have begun. This move follows prior threats from the administration to leverage the government shutdown to issue significant layoffs among federal employees.
An OMB spokesperson has confirmed that the layoffs have started and will be substantial; however, they did not disclose specific numbers regarding the employees affected. The decision to initiate RIFs during a government shutdown has raised concerns among various stakeholders, particularly within the federal workforce.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has condemned the planned firings, calling for an immediate end to the shutdown. AFGE President Everett Kelley expressed outrage, 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.” Kelley further emphasized the frustration among federal workers, describing them as pawns in a political game orchestrated by both elected and unelected leaders.
Mr. Kelley urged Congress to fulfill its responsibilities and take swift action to negotiate an end to the government shutdown. “Federal workers are tired of being used as pawns for the political and personal gains of the elected and un-elected leaders,” he asserted.
The U.S. government shutdown began ten days ago due to lawmakers' inability to reach an agreement on a funding measure necessary to keep the government operational. The prospect of significantly reducing the federal workforce aligns with Russell Vought’s long-term goals, as he has been vocal about his intentions to downsize government agencies.
On October 2, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to reveal that he had met with Vought to discuss potential cuts to various Democrat agencies. Trump characterized these agencies as a "political SCAM" and sought recommendations on whether the cuts would be temporary or permanent, highlighting a strategic approach by the administration to utilize the shutdown as an opportunity for significant workforce reductions.
