Trump Administration Initiates Layoffs for Over 4,000 Federal Workers Amid Government Shutdown

Trump Administration Begins Federal Layoffs During Shutdown

The Trump administration initiated the process of laying off over 4,000 federal workers across seven agencies during the prolonged government shutdown that spanned from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. This action, termed a 'Reduction in Force' (RIF), represented a notable escalation in the impact of the shutdown on the federal workforce, distinguishing it from the widespread furloughs that typically occur during such funding lapses.

Details of the Reductions in Force

As the government shutdown extended into its tenth day, the administration began issuing RIF notices. More than 4,100 positions were slated for elimination across various departments. The seven agencies initially affected by these layoffs included the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed a small number of its employees that they might also face RIFs, with other agencies actively considering similar actions.

White House budget director Russell Vought confirmed the commencement of these RIFs, stating, 'The RIFs have begun.' President Donald Trump indicated that these layoffs were a deliberate strategy, targeting 'people that the Democrats want' and leveraging the shutdown as an 'opportunity' to reduce parts of the federal workforce he disfavored.

Context of the 2018-2019 Government Shutdown

The 2018-2019 government shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, lasting 35 days. It stemmed from an impasse between the 115th Congress and President Trump over his demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall. The shutdown resulted in approximately 800,000 federal employees being affected; around 380,000 were furloughed, while an additional 420,000 were required to work without pay.

Distinction from Furloughs and Precedent

Unlike furloughs, which are temporary unpaid leaves of absence with the expectation of back pay upon the government's reopening, a Reduction in Force (RIF) constitutes a permanent termination of employment. While furloughed federal employees were eventually guaranteed back pay through the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which President Trump signed into law, the RIFs represented permanent job losses. This move by the Trump administration to initiate permanent layoffs during a government shutdown was unprecedented, as previous shutdowns had not triggered such actions.