WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Friday that it has begun “substantial” layoffs of federal workers as the government shutdown reaches its tenth day and with no end in sight.
“The RIFs have begun,” White House budget director Russ Vought said on X, referring to “reductions in force” for workers.
While the exact number of workers being fired could not be verified, FWRD AXIS News has learned the departments of the Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services were all affected.
Democrats said Friday that a shutdown does not require President Donald Trump to fire workers, saying he’s just wanting revenge.
Labor groups responded Friday by questioning the legality of the Trump administration’s move and threatening legal action.
The move by the Trump administration goes against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Appropriations Committee chair.
“I strongly oppose OMB Director Russ Vought’s attempt to permanently lay off federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown caused by Senator Schumer,” Collins said on Friday after the layoffs were announced.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused the White House of choosing to hurt the American people.
Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this. … They’re callously choosing to hurt people — the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos,” he said.
“Here’s what’s worse: Republicans would rather see thousands of Americans lose their jobs than sit down and negotiate with Democrats to reopen the government,” Schumer added.
Trump confirmed mass firings of federal workers during remarks at a White House event.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump did not specify which agencies were laying off workers or the exact number of layoffs but said it would be “a lot.”
