(AURN News) — Ten days after the shut down of the federal government, the White House has begun firing workers — a move that has never happened during a shutdown. The Office of Management and Budget confirmed substantial layoffs across key agencies, including Homeland Security, Education, Energy, and Health and Human Services.
OMB Director Russell Vought announced in a post on X that reductions in force, or RIFs, have begun — signaling the administration’s intent to permanently eliminate positions rather than temporarily furlough employees.
Democrats are calling the move illegal and vindictive, arguing that a shutdown gives the president no authority to fire career federal workers.
The RIFs have begun.
— Russ Vought (@russvought) October 10, 2025
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the administration is choosing to inflict more pain on the American people. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, also criticized the move, saying the firings should stop immediately.
Many observers believe the move is part of a broader effort to pressure Congress into accepting President Donald Trump’s funding plan, which would cut health care access for millions of Americans.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
