Russ Vought Announces Firings of Federal Workers: The RIFs Have Begun'

"AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced on Friday that his office has started firing federal workers, writing on X that the RIFs [reduction-in-force] have begun. A spokesperson for the budget office told The Associated Press that the layoffs are substantial, without providing further details. During a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Trump clarified that he's only focused on cutting Democratic programs, saying, That's the way it works."

"They wanted to do this, so we will give them a little taste of their own medicine. Notably, on Truth Social last week, the president made light of the firing of federal workers, comparing Vought to the Grim Reaper in a bizarre video. While Trump and his allies have continued to blame the left for the shutdown, broadcasting the dubious claim that Democrats want to use taxpayer dollars to fund health care for illegal aliens, a growing number of Republicans are pushing back."

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced that his office has started firing federal workers and posted "The RIFs have begun" on X. A budget office spokesperson told The Associated Press that the layoffs are substantial, without providing further details. Ahead of the Oct. 1 government shutdown, the Trump administration instructed federal agencies to submit plans for workforce reductions in programs whose funding had expired, lacked alternate financial support, or conflicted with presidential policy priorities. President Trump said he is focused on cutting Democratic programs and mocked the firings in a Truth Social video. Some Republicans pushed back against the shutdown strategy.

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