The U.S. government is experiencing a significant reduction in its workforce as the shutdown continues, according to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. On Friday (October 10), Vought announced on social media platform X that the "The RIFs have begun." The RIFS, which stands for reduction in force, have commenced, fulfilling the administration's earlier warnings of mass layoffs. An OMB spokesperson confirmed that these reductions are substantial, though specific details about which agencies or workers are affected remain unclear.

So far, the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed they have begun laying off employees.

“HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown,” an agency spokesman said in a statement. “All HHS employees receiving reduction-in-force notices were designated non-essential by their respective divisions.”

The Trump administration's strategy, outlined in a memo, involves permanent layoffs targeting employees in programs not aligned with President Donald Trump's priorities. According to Politico, these plans go beyond the usual temporary furloughs seen in past shutdowns. Programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and military operations are expected to continue unaffected.

The shutdown, resulting from a budget impasse between Democrats and Republicans, has left the government without funding. Despite multiple attempts, neither party has succeeded in advancing proposals to end the shutdown. The Senate is scheduled to vote on a short-term funding bill on October 14, but until then, the shutdown is expected to persist, affecting federal employees' paychecks.

The situation has sparked political tensions, with House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasizing the Republican Party's efforts to ensure military pay during the shutdown. Meanwhile, Democrats accuse the administration of using the shutdown to dismantle vital government services. The impact of these workforce reductions and the ongoing shutdown remains a critical concern for federal employees and the public alike.

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