- The Trump administration fired thousands of federal workers on Friday.
- The White House Office of Management and Budget is signaling that more will be coming.
- OMB said that it would “continue the RIFs” as the shutdown drags on.
Thousands of federal workers have already been fired since the government shutdown began. And that may not be the end of it.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget said that they were “making every preparation to batten down the hatches and ride out the Democrats’ intransigence.”
“Pay the troops, pay law enforcement, continue the RIFs, and wait,” the post read.
OMB is making every preparation to batten down the hatches and ride out the Democrats’ intransigence.
Pay the troops, pay law enforcement, continue the RIFs, and wait.
— Office of Management and Budget (@WHOMB) October 14, 2025
“RIFs” refers to “reductions in force,” the technical term for the kind of mass firing that the administration has been has been carrying out since President Donald Trump took office.
On Friday, the Trump administration fired more than 4,000 federal workers across a variety of agencies, including the Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and more.
Democrats and unions representing federal workers have contended that the firings are illegal, and that the Trump administration does not have to fire those workers, but is instead choosing to do so.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been sent home or are working without pay during the shutdown, but a 2019 law guarantees those workers back pay.
And in response to the Trump administration suggesting that some furloughed workers may not receive automatic back pay, congressional leaders have made clear that they support taking action to ensure they do.
The shutdown began on October 1, after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on a bill to fund the government.
Democrats have insisted that Republicans work with them to address a looming healthcare premium shock in exchange for their votes to re-open the government.
