The ongoing government shutdown has led the Trump administration to initiate significant layoffs of federal workers, affecting over 4,200 employees across various agencies. The White House has confirmed that federal firings have begun, with layoffs predominantly targeting departments like Treasury and HHS. This decision to terminate thousands of workers comes as a strategy to pressure Democrats amidst the impasse in negotiations. The situation has deepened the divide between parties, with Democrats expressing anger over the layoffs and union leaders condemning the mass firings as illegal. As the shutdown stretches into its third week, concerns grow for the remaining federal employees, while Trump hints that further job cuts may depend on Democratic cooperation in reopening the government.