Mass Layoffs Loom as Government Shutdown Continues Amid Political Stalemate

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has begun issuing reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to federal employees, impacting thousands as the government shutdown enters its third week. The notices, which allow for 60 days’ advance warning of layoffs, were confirmed on October 10 and affect multiple departments, including Education and Health and Human Services.

On October 12, Vice President JD Vance defended the administration’s actions on the CBS program ‘Face the Nation,’ asserting that a government shutdown creates chaos in federal funding. Vance stated, ‘We are figuring out how to take money from some areas and give it to other areas,’ placing blame on Senate Democrats for the shutdown.

Rachel Gittleman, president of AFGE Local 252, which represents Education Department workers, criticized the RIFs as a politically motivated attack on federal employees. ‘They are using the same playbook to cut staff without regard for the impacts to students and families,’ she said.

As of now, hundreds of employees in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, along with some from communications and outreach, have received notices. Gittleman vowed to fight for the union’s members, stating, ‘We will use every tool available to us to fight.’

The situation escalated further when Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut accused Republicans of boycotting negotiations needed to resolve the funding deadlock. Murphy attributed the dysfunction to Republican leaders, stating, ‘There’s no negotiations happening right now.’

In the backdrop of these layoffs, a coding error at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led to the rescinding of some RIF notices. A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services clarified that those affected were never laid off, quelling concerns generated by the initial notifications.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that the mass layoffs were an ‘inevitable’ consequence of the ongoing shutdown, remarking, ‘At some point they were going to have to make some of these decisions.’

Pressure is mounting on House Speaker Mike Johnson to return to session and address the impending paychecks for active-duty military personnel, who are expected to miss their October 15 pay due to the shutdown. A proposal from Republican Rep. Jennifer Kiggans to ensure their pay is gaining traction but has not yet been brought to a vote.