The federal workforce purge begins

Trump administration started Large layoffs of federal workers this week are part of an aggressive strategy to pressure Democrats during the ongoing government shutdown, marking one of the largest workforce purges in modern U.S. history.

According to the Office of Management and Budget, “significant” layoffs are underway in at least seven federal departments, including the Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Preliminary estimates suggest more 4000 employees are being laid off under the retrenchment process (RIF), and thousands more are facing layoffs if the budget impasse continues.

The RIFs have begun.

— Russ Vought (@russvought) October 10, 2025

White House framed The move is a necessary step to “restore accountability” and remove “politically motivated obstructions” within the federal bureaucracy. OMB Director Russ Vought publicly confirmed the action, writing: “The RIFs have begun.” Administration officials say many of the affected positions are related to programs that do not align with the president's priorities.

Critics, including labor unions and civil service advocates, have called the layoffs illegal and politically motivated. American Federation of Government Employees and other unions I plan to challenge dismissals in court, citing violations of due process and longstanding federal employment protections. Even Congressional politicians are joining the conversation.

While few details have been reported about Russell Vought's latest firing, there is no doubt that this was an untimely firing and is yet another example of the current administration's punitive actions toward the federal workforce. Dismissal of federal employees during quarantine will further harm…

— Senator Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) October 10, 2025

Abbreviations go far beyond typical furloughs associated with past outages, raising questions about service disruptions, long-term staffing shortages and the precedent it sets for future administrations. Analysts warn that repeated layoffs could cripple key agencies and deepen dysfunction in an already strained federal system.

The government remains in a partial shutdown as negotiations on a funding bill stall on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, confusion remains over whether furloughed employees will receive back pay once the lockdown ends – an issue that could soon add another legal battle to the widening crisis.