Here’s the “you knew this was coming” part.
The White House budget office announced today that “substantial” firings of federal workers have begun in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.
Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a tweet “The RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government.
From the New York Times:
The administration did not immediately specify how many workers would be terminated, prompting widespread confusion at a moment when hundreds of thousands are already furloughed and still others must report for duty without pay.
But early indications suggested that the cuts could be deep and broad. Officials at a wide range of agencies — including the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services Departments — independently confirmed they would be conducting layoffs.
A White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the forthcoming cuts as substantial.
It’s worth noting that this goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown. During previous shutdowns, federal workers are furloughed but restored to their jobs once the shutdown ends.
The kind of mass firings announced today have specific steps that must be followed, including notifying workers at least 30 days in advance.
By seeking to fire federal workers during a shutdown, Trump is using the closure as an opportunity to re-do the federal budget and exact revenge against his political foes at the same time.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said, “We’ll be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans, frankly,” adding that he would be giving Democrats a “little taste of their own medicine.”
The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues. https://t.co/ambbfrH58q
— PBS News (@NewsHour) October 10, 2025
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