President Donald Trump escalated his threats against federal workers on October 1, 2025, as the government shutdown entered its second day with no resolution in sight. The White House announced that mass layoffs of federal employees were imminent, with officials indicating firings could begin within one to two days.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that layoffs would likely number in the thousands, targeting what she described as agencies that do not align with the administration’s values. The Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought met with Trump on October 1 to discuss options for permanent workforce reductions during the shutdown.
Trump reinforced his position during an interview with One America News, explaining that the shutdown provided opportunities to make irreversible cuts to federal programs and personnel. Trump told NBC News that “we are going to cut a lot of the people that … we’re able to cut on a permanent basis.” He emphasized that these actions would be permanent and detrimental to Democratic priorities.
The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 after the Senate failed to pass two partisan government funding bills. Democrats have refused to support a continuing resolution without provisions to reverse Medicaid cuts and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that Democrats would continue fighting until they secured protections for healthcare programs.
Vought has already begun implementing cuts, canceling eight billion dollars in green energy projects across 16 states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized this approach as an egregious abuse of power, noting that federal services were being withheld based on political considerations.
The administration’s approach represents a significant departure from previous government shutdowns. Historically, federal employees have been furloughed during funding lapses but returned to work with back pay once appropriations resumed. The 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act mandated back pay for furloughed workers. This time, however, OMB directed agencies to plan for permanent layoffs during the shutdown.
Several federal agencies have posted partisan messages on their websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Forest Service declared that the government was shut down by “Radical Left Democrats.”
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office became the first agency to implement layoffs on October 1, announcing it would lay off approximately one percent of its 14,000-employee workforce. Acting Commissioner for Patents Valencia Martin Wallace indicated the reductions were necessary to focus on mission-critical operations. The agency also announced the permanent closure of its Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office in Denver, Colorado, affecting about 30 employees.
More than 500,000 federal workers have been furloughed across various agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, and Department of Education are furloughing majority portions of their workforces. Many agencies had already experienced significant staff reductions earlier in 2025, with the Office of Personnel Management estimating that more than 300,000 federal employees would be eliminated by year’s end.
Federal employees and advocacy groups have pushed back against the administration’s tactics. Charlotte Slaiman, an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission, described the shutdown as a political stunt designed to intimidate workers. More than 2,000 federal employees signed a petition urging Congress to pass a continuing resolution only if it includes protections for government workers and restores collective bargaining rights.
Congressional negotiations remained at a stalemate on October 2, with the Senate scheduled to vote again on Friday afternoon. Senators adjourned for October 2 in observance of Yom Kippur, extending the shutdown to at least three days. House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Trump at the White House, though no details of their discussion were released.
The administration has invoked Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that advocates for widespread government cuts. Trump had previously distanced himself from the document during his campaign but now appears to be embracing its recommendations for federal workforce reductions.
Federal workers affected by the shutdown face uncertainty about their employment status and future paychecks. James Faranda, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection employee, expressed frustration with the political uncertainty affecting government operations. Schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity have canceled sports and extracurricular activities, though classes continue for military families’ children.
Public Citizen filed a Hatch Act complaint against Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler for posting partisan content on the agency’s homepage. The complaint alleged that the SBA violated federal law by blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown on an official government website.
