United States President Donald Trump has dismissed thousands of workers across the U.S. government.
Trump on Friday, October 10, 2025, blamed Democrats for his decision to lay off the workers as he followed through on his threat to cut the federal workforce during the government shutdown.
Job cuts were under way at the Treasury Department, the U.S. health agency, the Internal Revenue Service and the departments of education, commerce, and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division, but the total extent of the layoffs was not immediately clear.
Roughly 300,000 federal civilian workers had already been set to leave their jobs this year due to a downsizing campaign initiated earlier this year by Trump.
“They started this thing,” Trump told reporters during an event in the Oval Office, calling the job cuts “Democrat-oriented.”
Trump’s Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but need Democratic votes in the U.S. Senate to pass any measure that would fund the government.
Democrats are holding out for an extension of health-insurance subsidies, arguing health costs will increase dramatically for many of the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
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Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire federal workers during the shutdown standoff, in its 10th day on Friday, and has suggested his administration will aim primarily at parts of the government championed by Democrats.
Trump has also ordered the freezing of at least $28 billion in infrastructure funds for New York, California and Illinois – all home to sizable populations of Democratic voters and critics of the administration.
The Justice Department said in a court filing that more than 4,200 federal employees had gotten layoff notices at seven agencies, including more than 1,400 at the Treasury Department and at least 1,100 at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Democrats said they will not cave to Trump’s pressure tactics.
“Until Republicans get serious, they own this – every job lost, every family hurt, every service gutted is because of their decisions,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told Reuters.
Labor unions representing federal workers have sued to stop the layoffs, saying they would be illegal during a shutdown.
The administration said in a Friday court filing that the unions’ request should be denied because they lack the legal right to sue over federal personnel decisions.
A federal judge is due to hear the case on October 15.
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