**Thousands of Federal Workers Fired by Donald Trump Administration Amid Government Shutdown**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 11, 2025, 2:27 PM*
The Donald Trump administration has begun issuing layoff notices to thousands of federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown, a move that critics say is a pressure tactic aimed at Democrats.
Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, announced on X that “the RIFs have begun,” referring to “reductions in force.” A spokesperson confirmed that more than 4,000 workers across seven federal agencies are receiving layoff notices.
### Major Departments Issuing Layoff Notices
Key departments including the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services have confirmed they are issuing layoff notices to employees. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security plans to lay off workers at its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. However, exact details regarding these layoffs remain unclear.
### Legal Challenge from Federal Unions
Two significant unions, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and AFL-CIO, have filed a lawsuit challenging these layoffs, describing them as illegal during a government shutdown. The unions 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 an excuse to terminate workers who provide critical government services.
In response, lawyers representing the Office of Management and Budget disclosed that approximately 4,200 employees will receive layoff notices.
### Breakdown of Layoff Notices
– **Treasury Department:** Plans to lay off about 1,446 employees.
– **Department of Health and Human Services:** Aims to notify between 1,100 and 1,200 employees.
– Other agencies, including the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, are also planning significant layoffs.
Government attorneys argued against granting a restraining order, stating that it would “irreparably harm the government.” They contend that the administration must be allowed to organize its workforce as it deems necessary during the shutdown.
### Impact of the Current Government Shutdown
The government shutdown began 10 days ago following a failure to reach a funding agreement. Approximately 40% of the federal workforce—around 750,000 employees—have been affected. While furloughed employees are typically entitled to back pay once the shutdown ends, there are concerns about whether this will be honored under the Trump administration.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the layoffs, accusing President Trump and Russell Vought of creating “deliberate chaos” through these aggressive measures.
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*Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/trump-administration-begins-laying-off-federal-workers-amid-government-shutdown/story
