Trump administration issues layoff notices to more than 4,000 workers during government shutdown

More than 4,000 workers across seven agencies will receive notices that their jobs are being cut, the government disclosed in a court filing.

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"The RIFs have begun," White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought announced in a post on X on Friday morning, referring to an acronym for "reductions in force".

A spokesman for his office confirmed the cuts had started and were "substantial". Their size and scope began coming into focus later on Friday, when the administration disclosed seven agencies had started laying off more than 4,000 workers.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use the shutdown to further his long-held goal of reducing the federal workforce.

By law, the federal government must give its workers at least 30-days notice that it is laying them off.