• The White House has initiated mass layings of federal workers as a tactic during the ongoing government shutdown.
• Approximately 750,000 public servants are affected, with no expected resolution in sight.
• Democrats have criticized the layoffs, calling them intimidation tactics that may not hold up legally.
• Active-duty military personnel are also set to miss pay, marking an unprecedented impact of a shutdown.
• Political tensions have escalated, particularly between party leaders in Congress.

The White House has confirmed the beginning of mass layoffs of federal workers as President Donald Trump seeks to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers amid a protracted government shutdown now entering its third week. Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed via social media that the administration has begun implementing what they refer to as “substantial” reduction-in-force plans, affecting some of the 750,000 public servants currently on enforced leave, according to SCMP, Los Angeles Times, and TRT Global.

The layoffs are part of an aggressive strategy that marks a departure from the typical furlough approach seen in previous government shutdowns. Federal agencies had been directed to submit reduction-in-force plans to the budget office before the shutdown commenced, highlighting a tactical shift aimed at undermining Democratic resistance. The Education Department, which has faced significant workforce reductions in the past, is among the agencies impacted by these new layoffs, according to Los Angeles Times and TRT Global.

Despite the White House's efforts, Senate Democratic leaders have condemned the layoffs, viewing them as an intimidation strategy rather than a legitimate budgetary move. They have asserted that the legality of mass firings during a shutdown is dubious. Furthermore, ongoing tensions between the parties have been palpable, especially as public employees begin receiving only partial paychecks, further deepening the crisis. "We’re not in a good mood here in the Capitol – it’s a sombre day," remarked Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, expressing the growing distress as the shutdown endures, according to SCMP and TRT Global.

Moreover, the implications of the shutdown extend beyond federal workers; approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel are set to miss their scheduled pay, marking a historic first in this context. The lingering deadlock underscores a significant failure in bipartisan negotiations, as both parties remain at an impasse, primarily regarding healthcare subsidies affecting millions. The growing need for compromise becomes increasingly urgent as the shutdown's effects ripple through various sectors, according to Los Angeles Times and TRT Global.