Trump plans mass federal layoffs during shutdown

On Oct. 2, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced layoffs were imminent and likely in the thousands as a result of the government shutdown. Her comments established the administration intent to use the shutdown for workforce reductions.

President Trump posted on Truth Social on Oct. 2, 2025, that he would meet with OMB Director Russell Vought—he of PROJECT 2025 Fame—to identify which federal programs to cut and whether cuts would be temporary or permanent. This public statement linked the layoffs to Project 2025 goals.

Labor unions AFGE and AFSCME filed suit on Sep. 30, 2025, in the Northern District of 🌴California (case 3:25-cv-08302), naming OMB, OPM, Director Russell Vought, and OPM Director Scott Kupor as defendants challenging shutdown RIF guidance.

The OMB Lapse Memorandum cited in the lawsuit instructs agencies to use this opportunity to consider reductions in force for programs not consistent with the President priorities. This language goes far beyond standard shutdown contingency planning.

By mid-Oct. 2025, public court filings and agency declarations showed agencies reported roughly 4,000 layoffs to the court. Some agencies issued and later rescinded multiple RIF notices at HHS, creating chaos and uncertainty for affected employees.

A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on Oct. 28, 2025, enjoining further shutdown-related reductions in force while the case proceeds. The order pauses many RIFs and preserves employees status pending resolution.

The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 and subsequent laws prohibit removing federal employees based on political affiliation. Trump stated intent to make layoffs Democrat oriented (Oct 10 statement) directly contradicts these legal protections.

During shutdowns, normal personnel procedures and oversight mechanisms are suspended: the Merit Systems Protection Board lacks funding to hear appeals, union representatives are furloughed, and congressional oversight is limited. This created an opportunity for mass firings without usual safeguards.