Government Shutdown Triggers Layoffs of Thousands of Federal Workers
WASHINGTON D.C. – The ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown has escalated,with multiple agencies beginning to implement layoffs impacting thousands of employees,officials confirmed Wednesday. The White House,through Russell Vought,initiated the firings,prompting accusations of deliberate disruption from Senate Democrats.
The layoffs come as the shutdown entered its tenth day, stemming from a stalemate in Congress over funding legislation. Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked a Republican resolution to reopen federal agencies, primarily due to a disagreement regarding language addressing expiring subsidies for health insurance impacting 24 million Americans.
Unions representing 800,000 government employees have sought an emergency order from a federal judge in San Francisco to halt the firings, with a hearing scheduled for October 16 to determine their legality. The U.S. Treasury and the health and Human Services Department have already begun issuing layoff notices, citing the shutdown as the direct cause. Departments affected include Education, Housing and Urban Advancement, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Energy, according to court filings.
“Russell Vought just fired thousands of Americans with a tweet,” stated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a released statement, accusing the White House of “deliberate chaos.” He added, “Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this. They don’t have to do it; they want to.”
Beyond layoffs,hundreds of thousands of federal employees continue to work without pay while the shutdown persists,and a meaningful disruption is looming for the military. approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel are scheduled to miss their paychecks next Wednesday – an unprecedented event in modern funding shutdowns.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the atmosphere in the Capitol as “somber” during a news conference.
The shutdown began after the September 30 funding deadline passed. While Congress seeks a resolution, President Trump has largely remained focused on other issues, including a Gaza ceasefire deal and deploying federal troops to cities like Chicago and Portland to bolster deportation efforts.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has also announced a delay in the release of key inflation data, rescheduling its publication to October 24 to ensure the accurate and timely payment of Social Security benefits.
