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The administration of President Donald Trump began on Friday the dismissal of more than 4,000 federal employees, as the partial government shutdown continues due to a lack of agreement in Congress to pass a funding bill.
The layoffs were confirmed in a court filing submitted by the Department of Justice in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), which questions the legality of the measures taken during the shutdown.
NBC News reported that the departments most affected are the Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS), which account for more than half of the announced layoffs. In these two agencies, nearly 2,600 employees received notice of termination.
Layoffs were also reported in the departments of National Security, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The budget director of the White House, Russ Vought, confirmed on the social network X the start of the cuts. He used the phrase "The RIFs have begun," which means "The layoffs have begun."
RIF is the acronym for "Reduction in Force," a term used in public administration and the federal sector of the United States to refer to layoffs or staff reductions due to budgetary reasons, reorganization, or other administrative reasons.
This is not about dismissals due to poor performance or sanctions, but rather a structural decision that necessitates eliminating jobs.
Official records indicate that on Friday, notifications were sent to 1,446 employees of the Department of the Treasury, between 1,100 and 1,200 employees of HHS, 466 from the Department of Education, 315 from the Department of Commerce, 187 from the Department of Energy, and 176 from the Department of Homeland Security.
At the EPA, between 20 and 30 employees received preliminary notifications. Additionally, the Patent and Trademark Office, part of the Department of Commerce, had already sent notices to 126 workers following the start of the shutdown on October 1. It is believed that the agencies could enact further layoffs if the delay in budget approval continues.
Democrats have criticized the measures, accusing the White House of using the shutdown for political purposes and as retaliation. They point out that the president is not required to make layoffs during a shutdown and has not received new legal powers to do so.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that the cuts are being implemented within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an entity that Trump has openly criticized since his electoral defeat in 2020.
For its part, a spokesperson for HHS justified the layoffs as part of an effort to dismantle what they called an "inflated bureaucracy" created during the Biden administration, and reiterated that the current government's goal is to consolidate the Make America Healthy Again agenda.
While Republicans and Democrats have yet to reach an agreement to reopen the government, thousands of federal workers remain in uncertainty as layoffs loom.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mass Layoffs During the Trump Government Shutdown
Why have more than 4,000 federal employees been laid off during the government shutdown?
The layoffs of more than 4,000 federal employees have been driven by the lack of agreement in Congress to pass a funding bill, leading to a partial government shutdown. The Trump administration has used this shutdown as an opportunity to implement staff reductions under the term "Reduction in Force" (RIF), which is not due to poor performance but to structural decisions. This measure mainly affects the Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services.
Is it legal for President Trump to carry out mass layoffs during the government shutdown?
The legality of mass layoffs during the government shutdown has been questioned by unions and civil organizations, arguing that the president lacks the authority to order layoffs without an appropriate legislative process. A judge in California has already temporarily halted these layoffs, emphasizing that the president requires the cooperation of Congress for large-scale reforms in federal agencies.
Which federal agencies have been most affected by layoffs during the government shutdown?
The agencies most affected by layoffs during the government shutdown are the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services, which account for more than half of the layoffs. Other impacted agencies include the Departments of Homeland Security, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, the Department of State also began laying off more than 1,300 employees as part of a structural reorganization.
What are the consequences of a government shutdown on federal services?
The federal government shutdown means that many agencies must temporarily halt their non-essential activities, leading to unpaid leave for hundreds of thousands of employees. Additionally, public services may experience disruptions. Although essential services like the Border Patrol and the armed forces continue to operate, they do so without pay for staff deemed "exempt." This disproportionately impacts communities dependent on federal government support and could lead to delays in food assistance, education, and health programs.
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