During an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show” from the White House, Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, indicated that the Trump administration is considering slashing over 10,000 federal jobs amidst the ongoing government shutdown. Vought emphasized the administration’s intention to minimize the federal bureaucracy, stating, “We want to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy, not just the funding.”
His comments followed a federal judge’s temporary order that halted the Trump administration from dismissing federal workers during the shutdown, which has now extended into its third week. Vought identified various government programs that may be targeted for cuts, including those linked to the Green New Deal initiatives at the Department of Energy and environmental justice efforts at the Environmental Protection Agency. He also mentioned the potential closure of the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
In his discussion, Vought revealed plans to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency he leads as acting director, asserting that its foundations are rooted in the philosophies of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and claiming it has been misused against small financial institutions.
The administration’s warnings regarding mass layoffs of federal employees have become more pronounced, with initial layoff announcements sent to approximately 4,200 federal workers, a figure that has since been slightly adjusted downward. However, Vought expressed expectations that these numbers would significantly rise, potentially exceeding the 10,000 mark.
In legal proceedings, the White House’s attrition estimates were included in court documents related to a lawsuit filed by unions representing federal workers. Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order against the firings, stating that the administration’s actions contradict established laws.
While furloughed government employees are currently without pay during the shutdown, Vought noted that federal employment reductions would continue to be a focus during the shutdown period. Meanwhile, President Trump has taken steps to ensure that active-duty military personnel continue to receive their pay through a presidential memorandum directed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
As the situation unfolds, it highlights the complex interplay between fiscal policy and the welfare of federal employees, emphasizing the critical need for a resolution to the shutdown.