**Thousands of Federal Workers Fired by Donald Trump Administration Amid Government Shutdown**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 11, 2025, 2:27 PM*

The Donald Trump administration has begun issuing layoff notices to thousands of federal employees as the ongoing government shutdown continues. This move has sparked criticism, with many viewing it as a pressure tactic aimed at Democrats.

White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought announced on X (formerly Twitter) that “the RIFs have begun,” referring to “reductions in force.” A spokesperson confirmed that over 4,000 workers across seven federal agencies are receiving these layoff notices.

### Major Departments Issuing Layoff Notices

Several key government departments have confirmed they are laying off workers. The Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have both started issuing notices. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security plans layoffs at its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Exact details about the scope and timing of the layoffs remain unclear.

### Legal Challenge: Unions Fight Back

Two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and AFL-CIO, have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the layoffs during a government shutdown. They have requested a federal court in Northern California to temporarily block the layoffs.

AFGE President Everett Kelley criticized the administration, accusing it of using the shutdown as a pretext to fire workers who provide critical services. In response, lawyers for the OMB stated that approximately 4,200 employees will receive layoff notices.

### Layoff Distribution Across Departments

The Treasury Department is planning to lay off about 1,446 employees, while the Health and Human Services Department expects to notify between 1,100 and 1,200 workers. Other agencies, including the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, are also preparing significant layoffs.

Government lawyers argue that granting a restraining order against the layoffs would “irreparably harm the government.” They maintain that the administration should have the authority to determine the best way to organize its workforce amid the shutdown.

### Impact of the Government Shutdown

The current government shutdown began 10 days ago due to a failure to reach a funding agreement. Approximately 40% of the federal workforce—around 750,000 employees—are affected. While furloughed employees are generally expected to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, there are growing concerns about whether this will occur under the Trump administration.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the layoffs, accusing President Trump and Russell Vought of creating “deliberate chaos” by pushing forward with these reductions during the shutdown.

—

As the situation unfolds, the federal workforce remains in a state of uncertainty, with both legal challenges and political tensions intensifying. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/trump-administration-begins-laying-off-federal-workers-amid-government-shutdown/story