The White House moved this week to begin widespread reductions in force across multiple federal agencies, laying off thousands of career employees as the U.S. government shutdown entered its second week. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) described the cuts as “substantial,” and agency notices and court filings show the administration has already started issuing termination notices tied to the funding lapse.
Wednesday and Friday filings and public posts from senior administration officials signaled the shift from short-term furloughs to permanent eliminations of positions. OMB Director Russ Vought confirmed on social media that “the RIFs have begun,” language echoed in agency communications and press reports. The move follows threats from the White House to use the shutdown as an opportunity to pare back programs the administration opposes.
Agency-by-agency notices and multiple news organizations reported that the initial wave targets departments including Treasury, Health and Human Services (which oversees the CDC), Education, Homeland Security and others — with particular attention on programs the administration considers partisan or duplicative. Some outlets say more than 4,000 positions were identified for elimination in the first tranche; officials characterized additional rounds as possible if the shutdown continues.
Reuters and The New York Times reported specific impacts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where dozens of scientists and field staff were among those notified, raising concerns about erosion of public-health capacity during influenza season and other ongoing threats.
Political and legal fallout
Democrats called the firings punitive and politically motivated, arguing the White House is using the shutdown to permanently reshape the federal workforce. Bipartisan unease was reported on Capitol Hill, and federal employee unions have already signaled legal challenges, accusing the administration of circumventing rules that govern layoffs and collective-bargaining protections. Some senators from the Republican side also expressed alarm at the precedent the actions set.
Union leaders and advocacy groups have said they will pursue litigation to block terminations they say are unlawful; several outlets noted that courts could be asked to weigh in quickly given the near-term harm to employees and to critical programs.
The White House framed the layoffs as a consequence of congressional inaction to fund parts of the government and a deliberate step to eliminate programs it views as unnecessary or aligned with Democratic priorities. Press officials said the administration still seeks a resolution to the shutdown, but warned that additional cuts will follow unless funding is restored. Congressional leaders from both parties face renewed pressure to reach a deal as the human and operational costs of the shutdown mount.
Reporting from affected agencies describes federal employees facing sudden notices, uncertainty about benefits and back pay, and departments beginning to scale back services. Experts and agency veterans warned that removing experienced staff could degrade oversight, regulatory work and public-health preparedness , effects that will not be easily reversed even after the shutdown ends.
legal filings from unions and states challenging the RIFs; further agency notices detailing exact numbers and positions cut; and whether congressional leaders can broker a funding deal to halt additional reductions. The situation remains fluid; reporters and officials say more agency-specific announcements are expected in the coming days.
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