The Trump administration has announced the commencement of substantial layoffs of federal workers as the government shutdown persists. According to officials, including White House budget chief Russ Vought, the layoffs are part of a reduction in force (RIF) strategy aimed at applying pressure on Democrats during the ongoing funding deadlock. Union leaders have reacted by requesting immediate court action to block these layoffs, emphasizing the impact on federal employees. While the White House insists the layoffs are necessary due to the shutdown, some reports suggest that not all planned cutbacks have been executed yet. The political implications of using federal workers as leverage in shutdown negotiations are becoming increasingly apparent as the standoff continues.