US President Donald Trump on Friday initiated layoffs affecting thousands of federal workers, blaming Democrats for the decision as the government shutdown entered its 10th day. Job cuts were reported across the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, Commerce, and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division, though the total number of affected employees remains unclear.
Roughly 300,000 federal civilian workers had already been slated for departure earlier this year due to prior downsising efforts, according to foreign media reports.
“They started this thing,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office event, describing the layoffs as “Democrat-oriented.”
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Democrats push back
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will not yield to Trump’s pressure tactics. “Until Republicans get serious, they own this – every job lost, every family hurt, every service gutted is because of their decisions,” Schumer said. Labor unions representing federal workers have filed lawsuits to block the layoffs, arguing they are illegal during a shutdown. The administration countered in court filings that the unions lack legal grounds to sue over federal personnel decisions. A judge is set to hear the case on October 15.
Some Republicans also voiced concern. “Regardless of whether federal employees have been working without pay or have been furloughed, their work is incredibly important to serving the public,” said Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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Targeting Democrat-oriented departments
White House budget director Russell Vought confirmed the reductions in force on social media, saying, “The RIFs had begun.” The cuts are set to hit departments with heavy Democratic support, including the Treasury, which will lose more than 1,400 employees, and Health and Human Services, with over 1,100 layoffs. Other agencies affected include Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Trump defended the focus of the firings, telling reporters, “These are people that the Democrats wanted, that, in many cases, were not appropriate… Many of them will be fired.”
The aggressive move escalates tensions between the White House and Congress. Typically, federal workers are furloughed during shutdowns but return to their jobs with back pay once the standoff ends. Around 750,000 employees are expected to be furloughed this time, while the nation’s 2 million active-duty troops could miss their October 15 paycheck if the shutdown continues.
