White House begins sweeping federal layoffs amid prolonged shutdown

11 October 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement about lowering U.S. drug prices, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura

The Trump administration quietly moved from furloughs to outright job cuts in the federal government this week, as the Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought confirmed that workforce reductions have already started.

In a terse message posted on social media, Vought declared “The RIFs have begun,” referring to reductions in force. His announcement coincided with a court filing and internal notices indicating that multiple agencies were issuing layoff orders to employees who had previously been furloughed.

The timing is significant. The federal government has been shut down since October 1 amid a budget impasse. Thousands of nonessential staff were furloughed, and those deemed essential have worked without pay. The move to permanent job cuts marks a new escalation: instead of halting services temporarily, the administration is actively dismantling parts of its

Sources say the initial rounds of layoffs are concentrated across agencies including Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity arm. In total, more than 4,200 terminations have already reportedly been served across those agencies. Many of those affected had been furloughed, making them prime targets for cuts now rendered “permanent.”

Politically, the layoffs aren’t just about federal budgets. President Trump defended the decision by characterizing the cuts as “Democrat-oriented,” accusing Republicans’ opponents of instigating the standoff. Senate Democratic leaders swiftly pushed back, blaming the administration for politicizing essential public services and warning that lives could be jeopardized. Legal action followed. Federal worker unions have sued to block the dismissals, arguing that mass firings during a shutdown may violate labor rules. A judge is scheduled to hear arguments on October 15.

Agency audits and internal documents show the magnitude of the cuts may extend far beyond the first tranche. Budget planning executed in recent months had already prepared reduction in force (RIF) playbooks to be used if the shutdown dragged on—now those plans are in motion. Reports indicate that the administration anticipates cutting at least 4,100 federal positions overall, though that number could grow as more agencies implement their RIFs.

Even as the White House claims urgency, the cuts come amid confusion over notification protocols and employment protections. The administration is relying on the fact that many impacted employees were already furloughed, arguing that service interruptions justify the accelerated timeline. But critics counter that without Congress passing funding, such cuts undermine accountability and may exceed legal bounds.

Beyond statutory and procedural fights, the human toll is stark. Many of the soon-to-be ex-workers are midlevel career civil servants without fallback options. The cuts jeopardize continuity in public health, tax collection, education oversight, environmental protections, and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, services dependent on government staffing may see delays or shuttering as agencies attempt to operate with skeletal personnel.

In the broader context, this shift marks a turning point in how the shutdown is being prosecuted. Furloughs were once the customary mechanism for pausing federal operations during impasses. Turning to sweeping layoffs signals a more confrontational posture—one that transforms a temporary disruption into lasting institutional change.

As the nation watches, the coming days may determine whether this purge is paused, reversed, or expanded further. For now, the federal workforce will be defined not just by absence but by elimination.