Thousands of federal workers fired by Donald Trump administration
What's the story
The Donald Trump administration has started issuing layoff notices to thousands of federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown, a move criticized as a pressure tactic against Democrats. White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought announced on X that "the RIFs have begun," referring to "reductions in force." A spokesperson confirmed that over 4,000 workers across seven agencies are receiving layoff notices.
Layoff details
Major departments issuing layoff notices
Major departments such as the Treasury and Health and Human Services have confirmed they are issuing layoff notices. The Department of Homeland Security also plans to lay off workers at its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. However, exact details of the layoffs remain unclear. Two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, have filed a lawsuit against these layoffs, calling them illegal during a government shutdown.
Legal challenge
Unions file lawsuit against layoffs
The unions have asked a federal court in Northern California to temporarily block the layoffs. AFGE President Everett Kelley criticized the administration for using the shutdown as an excuse to fire workers providing critical services. In response, lawyers for the Office of Management and Budget revealed that around 4,200 employees would receive layoff notices.
Layoff distribution
Treasury and Health departments plan significant layoffs
The Treasury Department plans to lay off about 1,446 employees. The Health and Human Services department plans to notify between 1,100 and 1,200 employees. Other departments like Education and Housing and Urban Development also plan significant layoffs. However, government lawyers argued that granting a restraining order would "irreparably harm the government." They contended that the administration should be allowed to determine how best to organize its workforce during this time.
Shutdown effects
Current government shutdown and back-pay concerns
The current government shutdown started 10 days ago due to a failure to reach a funding agreement. About 40% of the federal workforce, around 750,000 people, are affected by this shutdown. Furloughed employees are supposed to receive back-pay after the shutdown ends, but there are doubts under the Trump administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump and Vought of creating "deliberate chaos" with these layoffs.