4,000 federal workers fired due to ongoing government shutdown

The Trump administration disclosed in a legal document that over 4,000 federal employees were dismissed on Friday due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. 

The significant layoffs are set to impact workers across at least seven Cabinet-level departments, as stated in the filing at the District Court for the Northern District of California, where federal employee labor unions are attempting to halt the Trump administration’s downsizing amid the federal funding lapse. 

The majority of the job cuts occurred at the Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, with approximately 1,446 and 1,200 employees, respectively, being let go. 

The Department of Education has dismissed 466 employees; the Department of Housing and Urban Development cut 442 jobs; the Department of Commerce let go of 315 employees; the Department of Energy laid off 187 employees; and the Department of Homeland Security terminated 176 employees. 

The Justice Department’s filing indicated that other agencies have issued “a general ‘intent to RIF’ notice.”

The Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, has informed around 20-30 workers about potential job losses in the future. 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office separately notified 126 employees related to shutdown-induced RIFs on Oct. 1.

According to the DOJ, “Other Defendant agencies (besides the aforementioned) are contemplating potential RIFs in light of the continuing funding lapse,” as detailed in the document.   

“Additional predecisional assessments concerning offices and subdivisions for potential RIFs have been made based on criteria from the OPM Lapse Email. However, these assessments remain in discussion and are not final,” the filing explained. 

The Trump administration contended that because the RIF notices “require separation of employment within 30 or 60 days” – the obligatory notice period mandated for federal workers prior to termination – a temporary restraining order against the layoffs would not be justifiable.

“Plaintiffs do not demonstrate irreparable harm,” claimed the DOJ. “Their alleged injuries – arising from future job losses – would not occur for weeks or months, if at all.” 

District Judge Susan Illston, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, has scheduled a hearing for next Thursday regarding the unions’ request for a temporary restraining order. 

The shutdown entered its 10th day on Friday. 

Earlier in the day, White House budget director Russ Vought announced the commencement of permanent job reductions after Senate Democrats again blocked a short-term funding measure aimed at reopening the government.

“The RIFs have begun,” Vought posted on X.

The Post had previously reported that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – part of DHS – plans to terminate up to 2,540 employees and furlough 65% of its workforce as part of the RIF process.