Layoffs target HHS, Treasury (~1,300 notices), and DHS’s CISA amid shutdown
The administration has begun “substantial” reductions‑in‑force during the government shutdown, with OMB director Russ Vought posting “RIFs have begun” and agencies issuing 60‑day layoff notices to affected employees. HHS said staff across multiple divisions received RIF notices, Treasury employees were notified (AFGE cites about 1,300 notices), DHS says RIFs will occur at CISA, and Education confirmed cuts, prompting union lawsuits and political criticism.
Economy
Politics
📌 Key Facts
- OMB Director Russ Vought posted that “RIFs have begun,” and an OMB spokesperson told multiple outlets the reductions‑in‑force are “substantial,” while the White House otherwise declined additional comment.
- Multiple agencies are being hit: HHS confirmed employees across multiple divisions have received reduction‑in‑force (RIF) notices and said some health workers were being fired on Oct. 10; Treasury confirmed employees were notified and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) cites about 1,300 Treasury layoff notices; DHS says RIFs will occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); the Education Department also confirmed additional cuts (its staffing fell from ~4,100 when Trump took office to ~2,500 at the start of the shutdown).
- The AFGE says the administration is illegally firing thousands of furloughed workers during the shutdown, has filed suit, and AFGE National President Everett Kelley called the action illegal and “disgraceful.”
- RIF procedural details: agencies generally must give a minimum 60‑day notice (or 30 days with an OPM waiver); notices must include required content and can trigger notifications to unions and Congress — CBS and other outlets confirmed some federal employees received 60‑day layoff notices on Friday.
- Reporting places the layoffs in the broader shutdown and GOP strategy context: the federal workforce is already down about 200,000 employees this year, the administration has signaled cuts could be “substantial” and permanent for some jobs, and Republicans are coupling layoffs with rescissions and other budget actions.
- Political and legal pushback is mounting: Sen. Patty Murray said the shutdown does not grant new authority to lay off workers, and a court‑ordered deadline the same day required the government to disclose the status of any RIF notices planned or in progress.
- Some departmental details remain unspecified: OMB did not list all impacted agencies, DHS would not say whether ICE or FEMA would face cuts, and HHS and other departments have not provided comprehensive numbers for layoffs beyond agency confirmations.
📰 Sources (7)
Federal workers start receiving layoff notices amid shutdown
New information:
- CBS News confirms some federal employees received 60-day layoff notices on Friday.
- OMB Director Russ Vought said layoffs are beginning as the shutdown enters Day 10.
These are the agencies Trump is purging during the shutdown
New information:
- HHS confirms employees across multiple divisions have received reduction‑in‑force notices, attributing them to the shutdown.
- DHS says reductions‑in‑force will occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, calling it part of 'getting CISA back on mission.'
- Treasury confirms employees were notified of layoffs Friday; AFGE’s lawsuit cites approximately 1,300 Treasury notices.
- AFGE says the administration is 'illegally' firing thousands of furloughed workers during a shutdown and has filed suit.
- White House declined comment; OMB said layoffs are underway and 'substantial.'
- DHS did not say whether ICE or FEMA would face cuts.
Mass federal layoffs begin amid shutdown, White House says
New information:
- Education Department confirms it is among agencies hit by the new layoffs; agency staffing fell from about 4,100 when Trump took office to roughly 2,500 at the start of the shutdown, and additional cuts are now underway.
- HHS says health workers were being fired on Oct. 10, though without specifying numbers or sub‑agencies.
- OMB Director Russ Vought publicly posted that “RIFs have begun,” and an OMB spokesperson called the reductions “substantial.”
- Sen. Patty Murray said the shutdown does not grant the administration new powers to lay off workers, signaling likely legal and political pushback.
- Context update: both chambers are out of town on day 10 of the shutdown; Trump earlier in the week said job cuts could be “substantial” and “a lot of those jobs will never come back.”
White House says 'substantial' layoffs of federal workers have begun, with few details
New information:
- OMB spokesperson told NPR the RIF process is underway and 'substantial,' following Russell Vought’s post that 'The RIFs have begun.'
- HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said HHS employees across multiple divisions have received RIF notices and that those affected were designated non‑essential.
- NPR notes HHS has already reduced about 20,000 workers through a prior RIF and separations, more than were added during the Biden administration.
- Details on RIF procedure: minimum 60-day notice (or 30 days with OPM waiver), potential union/Congress notifications, and required content of notices.
- AFGE National President Everett Kelley criticized the action as illegal and disgraceful.
- Article references a court-ordered deadline the same day for the government to disclose the status of any RIF notices planned or in progress.
"This gets real": GOP escalates shutdown fight with rescissions, layoffs
New information:
- Axios reiterates that the administration has begun mass federal layoffs and places that move alongside GOP plans for additional rescissions and reconciliation bills.
- Contextualizes layoffs with GOP strategy statements and Democratic conditions for any shutdown-ending deal.
Trump officials say "substantial" federal worker layoffs have begun
New information:
- OMB spokesperson told Axios the reductions-in-force are 'substantial.'
- President Trump said the administration will cut 'very popular democrat programs that aren't popular with republicans.'
- Axios reports the federal workforce is already down about 200,000 employees this year.
- Confirmation that OMB did not specify which departments are impacted yet.