White House budget chief confirms ‘substantial’ federal layoffs as Trump administration uses shutdown for leverage

White House

The White House’s top budget official said on Friday that large-scale layoffs of federal employees have begun, marking a major escalation in the ongoing government shutdown standoff.

“The RIFs have begun,” declared Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a brief post on social media -- using the term for “reductions in force.” He offered no additional information about the scope or timing of the dismissals.

The announcement came as the Trump administration faces its tenth day without government funding. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that he would “fire federal workers” and hinted that cuts would be concentrated in agencies he labeled “Democrat agencies.”

According to administration estimates, roughly 300,000 civilian federal employees are expected to lose their positions this year as part of a broader downsizing effort.

According to the report, labour unions representing government workers have already filed lawsuits to stop the dismissals, calling them illegal during a shutdown. “Any layoffs while funding is frozen are unlawful,” union leaders have argued in court filings.

Vought’s statement underscores how the White House is using personnel cuts as a pressure tactic in the budget impasse. Critics say the move threatens to politicize the civil service, while supporters argue it’s a long-overdue step toward government efficiency.

With inputs from AP and Reuters