Trump Orders Sweeping Federal Layoffs Amid Prolonged Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump on Friday defended his decision to begin large-scale layoffs across multiple federal agencies, blaming Democrats for what he called a “Democrat-oriented” crisis as the government shutdown entered its tenth day.

The cuts, which are already underway at the Treasury Department, Department of Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, and several other agencies, mark the latest escalation in a political standoff that has paralyzed large parts of the U.S. government. Officials confirmed that thousands of employees have already received layoff notices, though the total number of job losses remains unclear.

According to the Justice Department, at least 4,200 federal workers across seven agencies have been notified, including more than 1,400 at the Treasury and 1,100 at Health and Human Services. The layoffs are part of a broader downsizing campaign initiated earlier this year, which had already targeted roughly 300,000 civilian positions across government departments.

“They started this thing,” Trump said during a briefing in the Oval Office, accusing Democrats of obstructing government funding bills. The president’s Republican Party controls both houses of Congress but still requires Democratic support in the Senate to approve spending measures.

Democrats have refused to back the proposed budget without an extension of health insurance subsidies, warning that millions of Americans could face steep increases in medical costs under the administration’s plan.

Trump, meanwhile, has ordered a freeze on $28 billion in infrastructure funds for New York, California, and Illinois — all Democratic strongholds — and has indicated that further cuts could target agencies traditionally supported by Democrats.

Federal workers’ unions have filed lawsuits seeking to block the layoffs, arguing they are illegal during a shutdown. A federal judge is set to hear the case on October 15. The administration has asked the court to dismiss the complaints, claiming unions lack legal standing to challenge the cuts.

Some Republicans have voiced unease over the move. Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, warned that the layoffs would harm essential public services. “Regardless of whether employees are working without pay or furloughed, their work is incredibly important to serving the public,” she said.

White House budget director Russell Vought confirmed the layoffs in a social media post, writing that “the RIFs had begun,” referring to reductions in force. Officials described the cuts as “substantial” but declined to provide detailed figures.

The timing of the announcement coincided with the issuance of reduced federal paychecks, many of which excluded pay for the days since the shutdown began. Hundreds of thousands of employees have been furloughed, while others — including essential personnel — continue working without pay.

If the impasse continues, the nation’s two million active-duty service members are expected to miss their next scheduled paycheck on October 15, heightening concerns over the mounting economic fallout of the shutdown.