WASHINGTON — On Friday, the Trump administration revealed the commencement of “substantial” federal worker layoffs, linked to the ongoing government shutdown due to Congress’s failure to secure a funding agreement.
“The RIFs have begun,” White House budget director Russ Vought said on X, referring to “reduction in force” for workers.
A White House Office of Management and Budget spokesperson, though withholding specifics, confirmed to NBC News that significant layoffs have started.
Agencies affected include Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services, alongside the Environmental Protection Agency, as per an administration official.
Democratic leaders countered, stating the shutdown doesn’t necessitate such layoffs by President Donald Trump, accusing him of using it as a punitive measure.
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Before the shutdown began on Oct. 1, OMB had warned of mass federal worker dismissals, exceeding the typical temporary furloughs seen during such periods.
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.
