The Trump administration has commenced sweeping layoffs across multiple federal agencies, citing an ongoing government shutdown and accusing Congressional Democrats of deliberately obstructing economic recovery efforts.
According to White House officials, the layoffs—described as “substantial” by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)—affect thousands of civil servants across key departments, including the Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, and the Internal Revenue Service. The Cybersecurity division of the Department of Homeland Security has also been impacted.
President Donald Trump, addressing the media on Friday, stated: “These are Democrat layoffs. They’re causing it. Their refusal to pass our budget proposals is sabotaging America’s economic recovery.” The President reiterated his long-standing commitment to reducing the size of government and blamed the opposition for the shutdown’s escalation.
The administration’s position was echoed in internal memos circulated to federal employees, which framed the layoffs as a direct consequence of Democratic obstructionism. “Trump opposes a government shutdown,” one memo read, “and any lapse in funds would be because of Congressional Democrats.”
Critics argue that the administration is politicizing the shutdown and using federal workers as leverage in a broader partisan battle. Meanwhile, labor unions and civil service advocates have condemned the layoffs, warning of long-term damage to public services and institutional morale.