Mass layoffs of federal workers have begun, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as the government shutdown continues. Russ Vought, director of OMB, announced on X that “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force actions aimed at shrinking the federal workforce.
The White House had signaled this move before the shutdown started on October 1, directing agencies to submit their layoff plans for review. The administration said these reductions would target programs whose funding has lapsed or is not aligned with presidential priorities.
Unions representing federal employees are strongly opposing the layoffs. Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers, stated: “It is appalling that the Trump administration is using the government shutdown as an excuse to fire federal workers, including dedicated EPA employees who provide critical services to communities across the country.” He further argued: “Using EPA jobs as political leverage is an unprecedented and illegal abuse of power,” adding that it could weaken agency effectiveness and threaten public health and safety.
The EPA confirmed some layoffs but did not specify numbers. A spokesperson blamed congressional Democrats for failing to resolve the shutdown.
At the Department of Education, Rachel Gittleman, president of AFGE Local 252, reported nearly all employees below director level at its Office of Elementary and Secondary Education were laid off. This office manages grantmaking for school districts and supports disaster-affected schools and teacher training programs. The department’s Office of Communications and Outreach also saw terminations; one team remains after previous cuts in March. Exact figures for department-wide layoffs remain unclear.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of Homeland Security with about 2,540 employees out of a total departmental staff near 270,000 as of May, has also experienced layoffs. The agency was established in 2018 to protect critical infrastructure but has faced scrutiny from administration officials over its handling of misinformation during recent elections and public health crises.
Labor unions have filed suit in San Francisco seeking a court order to block mass firings across agencies. Plaintiffs include Democracy Forward along with major unions such as AFGE and AFSCME. They argue that firing employees during a shutdown violates laws governing such periods and constitutes an abuse intended to pressure Congress.
Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine criticized what they called a deliberate choice by President Trump’s administration rather than an unavoidable outcome: “Reckless ideologues willing to inflict real pain on hardworking Americans to score political points.” They added: “It’s irresponsible, it’s cruel, and it won’t work.”
Layoffs are also occurring at health agencies under Health and Human Services (HHS). Spokesman Andrew Nixon stated terminations affect those deemed non-essential: “HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities… at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.” Some Centers for Disease Control employees said Friday they had yet to receive notices.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune continues pressing Democrats for support on a stopgap funding bill but remains five votes short despite repeated attempts since the shutdown began.
Other events connected with ongoing government activities include Illinois senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth being denied access Friday to a federal immigration enforcement facility outside Chicago—a site marked by protests—while Democratic governors voiced concern over National Guard deployments in cities like Chicago and Portland ahead of upcoming elections.
Financial markets responded negatively after President Trump threatened higher tariffs on Chinese imports via social media; both S&P 500 and Dow Jones indices fell sharply in response.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth expressed skepticism about supporting any proposal linking university funding access directly to adoption of current White House policies.
Federal prosecutors indicted two individuals accused of assaulting a Border Patrol agent in Chicago last week using their vehicles; hearings were postponed following formal charges.
A California man was charged with sending threatening mail to conservative podcaster Benny Johnson in Tampa; Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged vigilance against political violence following his arrest.
President Trump returned from his semiannual physical exam at Walter Reed Medical Center Friday afternoon without addressing reporters; no timeline was given for release of medical results.
