Government Shutdown Leads to New Layoffs
As the ongoing government shutdown continues, federal agencies have started another round of layoffs affecting thousands of workers as of Friday.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has confirmed that a new wave of reductions in force (RIF) is underway following a failed Senate vote to reopen the government. Over 4,100 employees have already lost their jobs as a result of this situation, according to recent announcements.
Notices regarding these layoffs were primarily sent to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Justice Department indicated that between 1,100 and 1,200 employees across various departments were let go.
HHS, under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stated that employees who received termination notices have been deemed non-essential by their divisions. They also emphasized an ongoing effort to eliminate programs they consider wasteful or duplicative, suggesting these layoffs align with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
In addition, the Washington office of the Centers for Disease Control was informed late Friday about the terminations, affecting officials from the Center for Global Health and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases as well.
Precisely, the layoffs have included 466 employees from the Department of Education, 442 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 315 from the Department of Commerce, and 187 from the Department of Energy. Moreover, 176 employees from the Department of Homeland Security, many linked to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), were also notified about their layoffs.
A DHS spokesperson commented that layoffs at CISA are a move towards refocusing the agency on its core mission, moving away from previous priorities like censorship and electioneering.
Additionally, 102 employees from the Community Financial Institutions Fund, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, were laid off due to its complete elimination.
Other federal agencies are also dealing with job insecurity. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received communication on Friday suggesting they could face layoffs as well. A filing from the Justice Department indicates plans for future RIFs are under consideration.
An EPA spokesperson expressed regret about the Democrats’ decision to shut down the government, implying that reopening it is always within their control.
A recent court filing that outlines this round of cuts was mandated by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston. A lawsuit addressing these issues was submitted by the American Federation of Public Employees and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations right before the shutdown commenced.
