The administration of US President Donald Trump has begun laying off federal employees, leveraging the government shutdown to reduce staff in various agencies. This was reported on October 10 by The Washington Post (WP).
“The Trump administration has initiated layoffs of federal employees, fulfilling the president’s threats to use the shutdown as a pretext for cutting workers he deems undesirable,” the article stated.
A White House official confirmed the cuts would be substantial, though the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. The reductions are expected to impact multiple departments, including trade, finance, health and social services, education, and internal security. However, these measures conflict with warnings from senior officials who previously cautioned that such actions could be legally questionable during a government shutdown.
The report highlighted that federal law prohibits the government from committing or spending funds not approved by Congress, which includes costs associated with layoffs. In response to the administration’s threats, several federal unions have filed lawsuits, arguing that the president lacks authority to implement cuts amid the shutdown. Lawyers asserted that the layoff process, known as RIF (reduction in force), violates federal regulations governing such actions, citing that temporary funding shortages due to the shutdown do not constitute valid grounds for termination.
The political deadlock between Republicans and Democrats continues to exacerbate the crisis, with the US economy losing $15 billion weekly. On October 6, Trump indicated willingness to engage in dialogue with Democrats on contentious issues but emphasized this could only occur after the government resumes operations. The shutdown, triggered by a failure to agree on a budget draft on October 1, has forced non-senior federal staff into unpaid leave while senators remain on payroll, protected by the US Constitution.
Trump Administration Initiates Federal Employee Layoffs Amid Government Shutdown
