WASHINGTON: The White House has initiated large-scale layoffs of federal employees, citing the ongoing government shutdown as the cause.
Over 4,000 workers across seven key agencies, including Health and Human Services, Treasury, Education, Commerce, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Homeland Security, have received Reduction-in-Force notices.
The Department of Treasury is set to cut roughly 1,300 jobs, mainly within the IRS, while the Department of Education faces nearly 500 layoffs. President Donald Trump confirmed the moves, stating that they would primarily affect “Democrat-oriented” staff, a statement that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
Federal unions have filed lawsuits, arguing that the layoffs violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits new government spending during a shutdown.
The administration’s broader workforce reduction efforts, including hiring freezes, buyouts, and voluntary resignation programs, have already reduced federal employment by over 200,000 since the beginning of 2025.
The ongoing shutdown has furloughed around 900,000 federal employees, with an additional 700,000 working without pay. While essential services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Transportation Security Administration continue to operate, several agencies, including the CDC, NIH, and WIC program, have partially or fully suspended operations.
A court hearing is scheduled for October 16 to determine the legality of the layoffs, which could significantly impact the administration’s workforce reduction strategy during the shutdown.
