Washington DC, October 11(HS): The Trump administration has initiated the layoffs of thousands of federal workers in a contentious move aimed at pressuring Democrats during the ongoing government shutdown, officials confirmed Friday. Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced via social media that reductions in force (RIFs) have begun, with over 4,000 employees across seven agencies being notified of impending layoffs.

The Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services are among the hardest hit, notifying approximately 1,446 and over 1,100 employees respectively, while other departments including Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security have also issued layoff notices.

This marks an unprecedented scale of workforce reductions during a federal shutdown, which began 10 days ago after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement.Labor unions swiftly condemned the layoffs as illegal and detrimental, filing lawsuits seeking to block the dismissals, while the Justice Department defended the administration's actions as necessary for operational efficiency during funding lapses.

Democrats accuse the administration of creating chaos, whereas Republicans blame Democrats for the prolonged shutdown resulting from disagreements over budget priorities including healthcare subsidies and Medicaid.The reductions follow a broader administration effort to trim the federal workforce, with an estimated 200,000 employees cut since January 2025 through resignations, buyouts, and firings.

As the shutdown disrupts government functioning, concerns mount over the impact on essential federal services and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of public servants.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar