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On Friday, the White House announced it has started laying off federal employees as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Democrats to end a government shutdown that has halted many public services. With the shutdown entering its third week and no solution in sight, Trump’s budget director, Russ Vought, confirmed on social media that the administration had begun executing its threat to start dismissing some of the 750,000 federal workers currently on enforced leave.
The Office of Management and Budget, led by Vought, told AFP that the layoffs would be “significant,” but did not specify exact numbers or detail which departments would be most affected. This came just days after Trump revealed he was meeting with Vought to discuss which agencies “he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent.” The president has repeatedly indicated that he views budget cuts as a way to increase pressure on Democrats.
Democrats in the Senate and House dismissed the threat of mass job losses as intimidation that would likely be challenged in court. Meanwhile, federal workers who keep their jobs continue to face unpaid leave, with the crisis expected to persist until at least mid-next week. An additional blow: 1.3 million active-duty military personnel are set to miss their pay next Wednesday—a scenario unseen in recent history during past shutdowns.
“Today is a somber day here on Capitol Hill—we’re not in a good mood. For the first time, federal employees nationwide will receive only a partial paycheck,” said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson at a press conference marking the tenth day of the shutdown. Tensions are running high, with clashes between Johnson and Democratic senators escalating this week, including a heated exchange after a Democratic leadership press event where Republican Congressman Mike Lawler criticized House Minority Leader Jeffries. Jeffries responded sharply, telling Lawler to “keep your mouth shut” and later calling him a “malignant clown.”
The shutdown began after the September 30 deadline, mainly because Senate Democrats blocked efforts by Republicans to reopen agencies. Central to the disagreement is Republican refusal to include language to address expiring subsidies that help make health insurance affordable for 24 million Americans. As the standoff continues, many members of Congress are looking to Trump to step in and broker a deal, but he remains largely disengaged, focusing instead on issues like the Gaza ceasefire and deploying federal troops to cities such as Chicago and Portland to support immigration enforcement.
Representative Jeffries criticized the president, saying, “Donald Trump can find the time to play golf, but he can’t be bothered to negotiate to reopen the government… and House Republicans have been on vacation for three weeks.” He added, “The American people are exhausted by the chaos, crisis, and confusion caused by Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.”
Adding to the strain, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that it would delay releasing key inflation data scheduled for next week until October 24 due to the shutdown, which has halted most government data releases. The consumer price index data delay is intended to help the Social Security Administration meet statutory deadlines to ensure benefits continue to be paid accurately and on time.
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