The White House has begun laying off thousands of government employees across several federal departments amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The move follows President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the federal workforce, a promise he made earlier in his administration.
According to official sources, layoffs have started in major agencies including the Treasury Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Departments of Education and Commerce. However, the total number of employees affected remains unclear.
During a press briefing, President Trump blamed Democrats for the job cuts, describing them as “Democrat-oriented.” He claimed that Democrats forced his administration into making tough financial decisions by refusing to support his budget proposals.
The White House emphasized that the decision was part of a broader effort to downsize government spending and restructure departments. Around 300,000 federal employees were already expected to leave their jobs this year under Trump’s earlier reduction plan.
Labor unions representing federal workers have filed lawsuits to stop the layoffs, arguing that it is illegal to terminate employees during a government shutdown. However, the administration has maintained that the layoffs are within legal boundaries. A federal court hearing is scheduled for October 15 to review the matter.
Reports indicate that departments critical to public services have also been impacted. Layoffs have begun at the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division, the Education Department, and the Commerce Department. These agencies handle national security, education programs, and economic data services.
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Democrats criticized the White House for targeting key departments that serve the public. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that every lost job and affected family is the result of Republican decisions.
The layoffs come as hundreds of thousands of government workers face delayed or reduced paychecks. As the shutdown continues, the future of many federal employees remains uncertain, with no clear sign of resolution on the horizon.
