Why a Legal Fight Is Brewing Over Shutdown Layoffs

President Donald Trump is exploring options to turn the federal shutdown that began on Oct. 1 into an opportunity to shrink the government workforce. The White House budget office, led by Russell Vought, has urged federal agencies to consider mass layoffs – known as “reductions in force,” or RIFS – arguing that once funding lapses, programs that don’t align with the president’s priorities aren’t required to continue.

The move would mark a break from past shutdowns, which typically didn’t trigger permanent job cuts. Democrats have condemned the plan and federal labor unions are already challenging it in court, saying it would treat workers as expendable and violate federal law.