Trump Administration Says Federal Worker Layoffs 'have Begun' Amid Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON — The Trump management announced Friday that it has begun "substantial" layoffs of national workers, arsenic nan government remains unopen down owed to nan inability of Congress to scope a backing deal.

"The RIFs person begun," White House fund head Russ Vought said connected X, referring to "reduction successful force" for workers.

While he didn't supply details, a spokesperson for nan White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed to NBC News that nan layoffs person begun and said they will beryllium "substantial."

Affected agencies see nan departments of Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services, arsenic good arsenic nan Environmental Protection Agency, according to an management official.

Democrats pushed back, saying that a shutdown does not require President Donald Trump to occurrence workers aliases springiness him caller powers to do so, arguing nan White House is being vindictive.

We’d for illustration to perceive from you astir really you’re experiencing nan authorities shutdown, whether you’re a national worker who can’t activity correct now aliases personification who is emotion nan effects of shuttered services successful your mundane life. Please interaction america astatine tips@nbcuni.com aliases scope retired to america here.

Ahead of nan shutdown, which began connected Oct. 1, OMB threatened to trigger wide firings of national workers, going beyond nan impermanent furloughs that typically hap during a shutdown.

The White House's move defies nan wishes of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, nan Appropriations Committee chair who oversees authorities funding.

"I've made very clear that I do not judge location should beryllium firings of furloughed workers," Collins told reporters connected Wednesday.

And it provoked dense pushback Friday from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., nan apical Democrat connected nan Appropriations Committee.

“Once again, erstwhile President Trump and his self-described ‘grim reaper’ determine to disregard the pleas of legislature Republicans and behaviour much wide firings, they are choosing to inflict much symptom connected nan American people," Murray said successful a statement. “No 1 is making Trump and Vought wounded American workers—they conscionable want to."

“A shutdown does not springiness Trump aliases Vought new, typical powers to origin much chaos aliases permanently weaken much basal services for nan American people, and nan elemental truth is this management has been recklessly firing—and rehiring—essential workers each year," she added. "This is thing new, and nary 1 should beryllium intimidated by these crooks."

Vought's announcement came 1 time aft nan Senate grounded for nan seventh clip to walk either nan Republican measure to support nan authorities unfastened temporarily aliases nan Democratic replacement that includes further wellness attraction funding.