The Trump administration has begun large-scale layoffs of federal employees, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced Friday, marking the first wave of planned “reductions in force” amid the ongoing government shutdown.
“The RIFs have begun,” Vought wrote on X, confirming the layoffs are “substantial.” The move follows months of warnings from President Donald Trump, who has vowed to shrink what he calls the federal “deep state.” Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury confirmed to Axios that layoff notices have been issued, though the full scope remains unclear.
The American Federation of Government Employees, representing roughly 800,000 federal workers, filed suit against the administration, calling the action “illegal and politically motivated.” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) condemned the move as “unnecessary and cruel,” arguing that Trump is “hurting American workers for political gain.”
Legal experts say mass firings during a shutdown could violate federal employment law, potentially sparking litigation. Economists have also warned the cuts could disrupt essential services and deepen the economic impact of the shutdown.
The White House directed agencies earlier this year to prepare permanent reductions, part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the federal bureaucracy.
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