Trump federal worker layoffs begin amid shutdown standoff
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The Trump administration begins federal worker layoffs, with Russell Vought confirming “substantial” RIFs as part of a broader push tied to the government shutdown.
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Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, listens as he addresses members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, September 29, 2025, in Washington (AP)
The Trump administration has initiated layoffs across multiple federal agencies, following weeks of warnings that workforce reductions could accompany the ongoing government shutdown. The move marks one of the most significant efforts yet to reshape the federal bureaucracy.
Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), confirmed on Friday that layoffs have begun, describing them as “substantial".
In a post on X, Vought wrote simply: “The RIFs have begun,” with the acronym in question referring to “reductions in force", a formal classification for cutting federal staff.
The RIFs have begun.
— Russ Vought (@russvought) October 10, 2025
An OMB spokesperson later confirmed the layoffs, calling them “substantial", though they declined to specify which departments were affected or how many workers were dismissed.
The federal workforce has already shrunk by approximately 200,000 employees in the past year, making the latest round of cuts particularly impactful.
Shutdown used as leverage against 'deep state'
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at using the shutdown as a mechanism to carry out long-promised federal workforce cuts, often describing federal employees as part of the so-called "deep state".
“We’ll be cutting very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans,” Trump said Thursday at the White House, suggesting that the layoffs are politically motivated.
The administration’s messaging has drawn criticism from labor unions and former officials who warn the moves could disrupt public services and deepen instability within federal institutions.
Uncertainty grows as federal workforce shrinks
The precise scope of the layoffs remains unclear. Neither the OMB nor the White House has released a breakdown of affected departments or programs.
Analysts say the move could be part of a broader effort to centralize executive power and eliminate agencies or roles viewed as oppositional to the administration’s agenda.
As the government shutdown continues, federal employees and contractors face mounting uncertainty over their jobs, paychecks, and futures. Critics argue that the administration is weaponizing budget standoffs to bypass formal civil service protections.
