Summary
The Trump administration is using the government shutdown to significantly reduce the number of federal employees. The aim is to shrink the federal government and eliminate programs that go against the administration’s beliefs. This move has resulted in many layoffs, which are now under legal review.
Key Facts
- The government shutdown is being used to fire federal workers for the first time.
- The goal is to reduce the size of the federal government and align it with President Trump's vision.
- So far, around 4,000 federal employees have been terminated, but these layoffs are currently facing legal challenges.
- About 14% of the federal workforce, excluding military and postal service, is expected to leave this year.
- These layoffs are impacting unemployment rates, especially in Washington, D.C., and affecting private sector jobs that depend on government contracts.
- Some terminated programs include "green New Deal" initiatives and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- There is legal uncertainty about whether using a shutdown to terminate employees is allowed.
- The administration plans to lay off more than 10,000 workers during the shutdown.
