The Trump administration has issued stark warnings that federal worker layoffs are imminent, with mass terminations expected to begin within 48 hours as the government shutdown enters its third day. White House officials announced that unprecedented reductions in force (RIFs) will target federal employees across multiple agencies, marking a dramatic escalation from traditional shutdown procedures.

White House Sets Imminent Timeline for Layoffs

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a private call that mass layoffs would begin "in a day or two," establishing the most aggressive timeline for federal workforce reductions in shutdown history. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this message during a press briefing, stating that layoffs are "imminent."

"Two days, imminent, very soon," Leavitt explained when pressed for specifics. "All of those things are very synonymous with one another." She confirmed that President Trump has directed his entire cabinet to develop layoff plans, with OMB working across agencies to identify where cuts can be made.

Vice President Vance Doubles Down on Layoff Threats

Vice President J.D. Vance provided additional context during a White House briefing, explaining the administration's rationale for the unprecedented move. "If this thing drags on for another few days, or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off," Vance told reporters. "We're going to have to save money in some places so that essential services don't get turned off in other places."

Unprecedented Approach to Government Shutdowns

The threatened layoffs represent an extraordinary departure from historical shutdown management. In previous government shutdowns, federal employees were placed on unpaid furloughs but retained their positions and received back pay once funding was restored. The current approach would permanently terminate federal workers, creating lasting impacts on government operations.

Approximately 750,000 federal employees are currently furloughed due to the shutdown, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. The administration's plan would convert some of these temporary furloughs into permanent job losses through the formal RIF process.

The Complex RIF Process

Federal workforce experts have questioned the feasibility of implementing mass RIFs on such a short timeline. The federal RIF process typically requires months to complete, involving complicated prioritization based on tenure, veterans' preference, length of service, and employee performance. The expedited timeline raises concerns about proper implementation and potential legal challenges.

Which Agencies Face Immediate Cuts

While the White House has not specified which agencies will face the largest cuts, at least one department has already begun implementing layoffs. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office laid off approximately 1% of its workforce on Wednesday, affecting about 140 employees in the agency's Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office in Denver, Colorado.

USPTO Director John Squires informed staff that the decisions were made "after full and careful deliberation" and were "in full alignment with both the agency's unique mission and the dynamic future that lies ahead." However, the choice of USPTO for initial layoffs is puzzling, as the agency is fee-funded and typically remains operational during shutdowns.

Targeting Non-Essential Functions

The OMB directive encourages agencies to focus RIFs on employees whose work is furloughed during the shutdown, who lack alternative funding sources, and whose program areas are "not consistent with the president's priorities." This broad criteria could potentially affect workers across numerous federal departments and agencies.

Legal Challenges and Process Concerns

The administration's layoff plans face immediate legal challenges from federal employee unions. The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit arguing that conducting RIFs during a shutdown violates federal law.

The unions contend that "carrying out RIFs is plainly not a permitted function that can lawfully continue during a shutdown," requesting a preliminary injunction to block the planned layoffs. Democratic lawmakers have also questioned the legality of the directive, with Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) arguing it violates the Antideficiency Act.

60-Day Notice Requirements

Despite the administration's aggressive timeline, federal law requires a 60-day notice period for RIF-affected employees. This means workers receiving layoff notices in the coming days would remain on payroll for two months, making them eligible for retroactive pay once the shutdown ends.

Impact on Federal Workforce

The layoff threats come on top of massive workforce reductions already implemented by the Trump administration. Approximately 200,000 federal employees have left their positions since January, with about 154,000 departures through the deferred resignation program and 25,000 through previous RIFs.

Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier warned that the current shutdown has "especially high stakes" given the existing workforce disruptions. "The administration has already haphazardly removed tens of thousands of federal employees from the government, causing disruption and long-term harm to vital services that millions of Americans rely on," Stier said.

Emotional Toll on Federal Workers

Despite the aggressive stance toward layoffs, White House Press Secretary Leavitt acknowledged the human impact of the decisions. "They are real Americans who have families at home and their working without pay is unfair," she said, expressing sympathy for federal workers caught in the political standoff.