Over 4,000 federal workers laid off amid U.S. shutdown

The Trump administration began dismissing more than 4,000 federal workers on Friday, as the shutdown continues due to Congress’s failure to reach a budget agreement.

According to court documents, the move is part of the White House’s efforts to downsize the government amid the financial deadlock, and it has sparked strong backlash from Democrats and labor unions.

New Justice Department documents reveal that layoff notices have been sent to employees at seven federal departments, with the Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services being the hardest hit — accounting for more than half of all dismissals.

The Departments of Homeland Security, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency have also been affected.

Democrats have described the move as “vindictive,” emphasizing that the government shutdown does not necessitate layoffs nor grant Trump new powers.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Let’s be clear: No one is forcing Trump and Vought to do this… They are deliberately hurting workers who protect our country, inspect our food, and respond to disasters. This is deliberate chaos.”

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, added, “This administration has been ruthlessly firing — and re-hiring — essential workers all year long; this is nothing new, and we shouldn’t be intimidated by these crooks.”

The federal government shutdown began on October 1 and has now entered its tenth day.