As the “shutdown” (temporary suspension of work), in which some functions of the US federal government are suspended, exceeded 10 days on the 10th, the White House began to fire federal officials.
As Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement over the handling of the budget bill, which is the direct cause of the shutdown, President Donald Trump is interpreted as taking out the “firing public officials” card as a means to pressure Democrats.
Russell Boat, director of the White House Budget Office, told his X that “the workforce reduction (RIF) has begun.”
The White House has warned that if the shutdown becomes a reality, it will reduce manpower from ministries that are not policy priorities of the Trump administration.
The White House did not specify the size of the reduction, but a White House official said it would “impact thousands of federal employees.”
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), more than 4,000 employees of federal agencies have been notified of dismissal so far. The targets of dismissal included the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Energy Ministry, the Homeland Security Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported that more than 1,100 people received job cuts on the same day.
Hundreds of thousands of civil servants are currently on unpaid leave in the United States. The U.S. federal government has been shut down before, but it is unusual for employees to be fired in the aftermath of the shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Trump and Boat for “nobody has forced this. They don’t have to do this. It’s because they want it, it’s deliberate confusion.”
Some Republicans have also criticized the White House firing announcement. Susan Collins, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she strongly opposes the boat director’s attempt to permanently fire federal employees who have been placed on temporary leave.
As the shutdown period is prolonged, the salary of public officials is also being disrupted.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a press conference that 1.3 million active-duty soldiers will not be paid on the 15th because Democrats are stubborn and don’t care (about the unpaid salary of military and other public officials).”
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
