WASHINGTON — On Friday, the Trump administration revealed that it has initiated significant layoffs of federal employees, as the government remains closed due to Congress’s failure to agree on a funding plan.
“The RIFs have begun,” White House budget director Russ Vought said on X, referring to “reduction in force” for workers.
Although specific details were not provided, a White House Office of Management and Budget spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that these layoffs have started and will be considerable.
According to an administration official, the layoffs affect several agencies including the departments of Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Democrats criticized the move, arguing that a shutdown doesn’t necessitate President Donald Trump to lay off workers or grant him additional powers, accusing the White House of being punitive.
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Prior to the shutdown, which commenced on October 1, the OMB warned of enacting widespread layoffs of federal workers, a step beyond the usual temporary furloughs seen during shutdowns.
The White House’s move defies the wishes of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the Appropriations Committee chair who oversees government funding.
“I’ve made very clear that I do not believe there should be firings of furloughed workers,” Collins told reporters on Wednesday.
And it provoked heavy pushback Friday from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
“Once again, when President Trump and his self-described ‘grim reaper’ decide to ignore the pleas of congressional Republicans and conduct more mass firings, they are choosing to inflict more pain on the American people,” Murray said in a statement. “No one is making Trump and Vought hurt American workers—they just want to.”
“A shutdown does not give Trump or Vought new, special powers to cause more chaos or permanently weaken more basic services for the American people, and the simple fact is this administration has been recklessly firing—and rehiring—essential workers all year,” she added. “This is nothing new, and no one should be intimidated by these crooks.”
Vought’s announcement came one day after the Senate failed for the seventh time to pass either the Republican bill to keep the government open temporarily or the Democratic alternative that includes additional health care funding.
