WASHINGTON, Oct 10 – President Donald Trump announced a sweeping round of layoffs across several U.S. government agencies on Friday, blaming Democrats for the move as the government shutdown entered its tenth day. The decision, which affects thousands of federal employees, marks one of the most significant workforce reductions in recent years and has sparked outrage among lawmakers and unions alike.
Officials confirmed that layoffs were taking place within the Treasury Department, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the departments of Education, Commerce, and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division. While the precise number of job cuts remains unclear, early estimates indicate that more than 4,200 federal employees have already received notices.
President Trump defended the move, calling it a necessary response to what he described as Democratic obstruction in Congress. “They started this mess,” he said from the Oval Office, characterizing the layoffs as “Democrat-oriented.” The President reiterated that Democrats were refusing to approve legislation needed to reopen the government, insisting that they were holding out for expanded health-insurance subsidies.
Widespread Cuts Across Key Federal Agencies
The layoffs are part of a larger downsizing campaign initiated earlier in the year, which had already placed nearly 300,000 civilian workers at risk of losing their jobs. Departments hit hardest by the cuts include Treasury and Health and Human Services, with over a thousand workers reportedly laid off from each. The Department of Education, which Trump has repeatedly suggested could be dismantled entirely, also faces severe reductions.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had begun layoffs as well. This agency, which gained national prominence after the 2020 election for its role in safeguarding voting systems, has drawn criticism from the President in the past. Trump has maintained false claims that the 2020 election was compromised, despite assurances from his own officials that it was secure.
The Department of Commerce, responsible for overseeing key economic data and weather forecasting, is also undergoing cuts, while job losses at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency were reported by union representatives.
A spokesperson from the White House Office of Management and Budget described the reductions as “substantial” but did not specify how many employees were affected. On social media, Budget Director Russell Vought wrote that the “RIFs had begun,” referring to the government’s term for “reductions in force.”
Many of the affected workers had already been furloughed since the start of the shutdown and were expecting reduced or delayed paychecks. The situation has left hundreds of thousands of government employees uncertain about their financial future. Active-duty military personnel are also expected to miss their mid-October paychecks if the impasse is not resolved soon.
Legal Battle Looms as Unions Fight Back
The sweeping layoffs have triggered immediate backlash from federal labor unions and Democratic leaders, who have accused the administration of using the shutdown as a political weapon. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the decision, saying, “Every job lost, every family struggling, every essential service gutted—this is the result of Republican choices.”
Unions representing federal employees have filed lawsuits seeking to halt the layoffs, arguing that terminating workers during a government shutdown is illegal. The administration countered in court filings that unions lack legal standing to challenge federal personnel decisions. A federal judge is scheduled to hear the case on October 15.
Under federal law, agencies are typically required to give employees 60 days’ notice before layoffs. However, officials have indicated that this period could be shortened to 30 days due to the “emergency” nature of the shutdown.
Even some Republicans have expressed unease with the administration’s actions. Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged caution, emphasizing the critical role of federal workers in maintaining government operations. “Regardless of whether employees are furloughed or working without pay, their contributions are vital to serving the American public,” she said in a statement.
At the Department of Health and Human Services, where approximately 78,000 employees oversee critical programs ranging from medical research to disease prevention, about 41% of staff had already been furloughed. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed that layoffs were concentrated among those not currently working but declined to provide further details.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department faces similar turmoil. A union official reported that more than 1,300 Treasury workers are expected to lose their jobs, with many cuts targeting the IRS. Nearly half of the IRS’s 78,000 employees had already been furloughed earlier in the week.
The White House has also ordered a freeze on $28 billion in infrastructure funding for New York, California, and Illinois—states with large Democratic populations and vocal critics of the administration’s policies. The move further escalated tensions between the federal government and state leaders, who warned that the funding freeze would delay crucial public works projects.
As the shutdown drags on, uncertainty continues to loom over millions of Americans who rely on federal services. Economists have warned that prolonged disruptions could harm public health, delay tax processing, and hinder economic growth. For many government workers, however, the crisis has already become personal—a fight not only for their paychecks but for their livelihoods.