Federal Worker RIF Announced amid Ongoing Government Shutdown
Editor’s Note: On Oct. 15, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with layoffs of thousands of federal workers during the shutdown, pausing new and existing notices while labor union challenges are reviewed.
On Oct. 10, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget — which oversees the federal budget, coordinates governmentwide policy, and ensures that agency programs align with the president’s priorities — announced that the federal government has begun mass firings of federal workers as the ongoing shutdown stretches on. This marks a notable departure from the prior approach of temporary furloughs during funding lapses.
Multiple agencies were reportedly affected by these actions, including the Departments of the Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
This time, the Trump administration is pursuing permanent layoffs, focusing on positions and programs deemed nonessential or not aligned with the president’s priorities. The White House had signaled this approach before the shutdown began, instructing agencies to submit reduction-in-force (RIF) plans for review.
The layoffs have intensified tensions on Capitol Hill, and a federal labor union has already filed a lawsuit requesting a court order to pause the layoffs. Meanwhile, attempts to broker a deal to reopen the government continue, but negotiations remain stalled as both sides hold firm on their core issues.
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