President Donald Trump has begun laying off thousands of federal employees as part of the ongoing government shutdown, targeting multiple agencies across the administration.
Departments affected include Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, and parts of Homeland Security.
According to internal figures, more than 4,200 employees have received termination notices, including over 1,400 at Treasury and at least 1,100 at Health and Human Services.
Speaking from the White House on Friday, Trump said the cuts were necessary and blamed Democrats for the budget impasse. “They started this,” he said, describing the layoffs as politically driven.
Unlike previous shutdowns, which typically involved temporary furloughs, the current wave of layoffs is being implemented as permanent reductions. The administration has framed the move as part of a broader effort to streamline federal operations.
Labor unions have condemned the action and are preparing legal challenges. Democratic lawmakers have also criticized the layoffs, warning of long-term damage to public services and worker protections.
The shutdown began October 1 and has disrupted operations nationwide, with no resolution in sight.