Text Link
Civil Servants
No items found.
No items found.
Civil Servants
No items found.

Policies & Analysis

Learn more about the policies and actions taken by the Trump-Vance administration, and how they threaten communities, freedoms, and democracy.

The Trump-Vance Administration is trying to

Fire thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown

What we know

This draft memo from the Office of Management and Budget directs agencies to consider laying off federal workers and permanently eliminate their roles during a government shutdown.

Formal Name

OMB Shutdown RIF Memo

Status
Underway
Formal Identifier

N/A

September 24, 2025

Anticipated Impact

The Office of Management and Budget has told agencies to create plans to fire federal workers during the 2025 government shutdown. Employees working on programs for which the funding lapsed after September 30 would be most likely to be cut. This is a change from past procedure during shutdowns, in which furloughed federal workers retained their jobs and obtained back pay after the shutdown ended. The Trump-Vance administration is using federal workers as a bargaining chip to force Congress to capitulate to this administration's demands. This represents another attempt to continue the Trump-Vance administration's destruction of the federal workforce and limit the ability of civil servants to deliver services and help Americans.

By the Numbers

Partner Analysis

People are fighting back

How communities are responding

Democracy 2025 and our partners are ready to counter threats to people's rights, justice, and equality in courtrooms and communities across the country. Learn more about how people and communities are responding to this harmful policy:

No legal actions available.

Join the Fight for Democracy

Help us counter unlawful, anti-democratic actions from the Trump-Vance administration and protect people, freedom, and justice.

An illustration of three people, two women and one man, shown in profile and facing left. Each wears glasses, and two wear caps, giving a casual appearance. The background includes red, white, and blue abstract patterns with stars.