White House threatens mass federal layoffs amidst shutdown

The White House is threatening to carry out mass layoffs of federal workers with the government shutdown underway. A presidential spokesperson said government agencies are already preparing for cuts, even as Vice President JD Vance insisted no final decisions have been made. Typically during shutdowns, federal employees are furloughed and they receive back pay once the government reopens. But President Trump has directed the White House budget office and Cabinet secretaries to identify jobs to be cut. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “we believe that layoffs are imminent.”