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37m ago

White House Begins 'Substantial' Federal Layoffs as Shutdown Enters Day 10

The White House is using permanent job cuts to pressure Senate Democrats rather than the temporary furloughs of past shutdowns.

Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, listens as he addresses members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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In an extraordinary effort to inject politics into millions of Americans’ travel experiences, the Trump administration plans to roll out a video at airports across the United States that will blame Democrats for lapses in Transportation Security Administration workers’ pay because of the government shutdown.
It ‘doesn’t take long before the system slows down’

Overview

  • OMB Director Russ Vought announced that reductions in force have begun, with a spokesperson calling the layoffs substantial but offering no totals or agency-wide breakdowns.
  • Federal employee unions, including AFGE, filed lawsuits seeking to block the firings, calling the move unlawful and a sharp departure from standard shutdown practice.
  • Agency officials said the Education Department and Health and Human Services are among those hit, though the full scope and headcount remain unclear.
  • Operational fallout continues as essential TSA officers and air traffic controllers work without pay and flight delays rise, while key BLS and Census economic reports are postponed.
  • Talks remain stalled with both chambers out until next week, Republicans pushing a short-term funding bill and Democrats insisting on action to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.