• The White House has begun mass layoffs of federal workers amidst a government shutdown.
• Trump's administration is using the layoffs to exert pressure on Democrats.
• Over 4,000 federal employees are expected to lose their jobs, including significant cuts in multiple departments.
• The layoffs have sparked legal challenges from labor unions claiming they are unlawful.
• The shutdown is affecting not only civilian employees but also military personnel's pay schedules.

On Friday, the White House announced the initiation of mass layoffs of federal employees as the government shutdown extends into its third week, with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought stating on social media, "The RIFs have begun," indicating significant reductions in workforce across numerous agencies, according to The Hill and South China Morning Post.

The layoffs are part of an aggressive strategy by President Donald Trump's administration to apply pressure on Democrats, with the White House labeling the cuts as necessary due to the "Democrat-led shutdown," which they argue has crippled public services, according to NPR, Los Angeles Times, and TRT Global.

Currently, Trump’s administration has indicated that approximately 4,000 federal workers across various departments, including Health and Human Services and the Treasury, will receive layoff notices, though details regarding specific numbers and impacted agencies remain sparse. Senior advisers have noted that the Education Department is among the agencies facing cuts, according to Al Jazeera and The Jakarta Post.

The measure has raised substantial legal challenges, with unions claiming that the layoffs constitute an unlawful move to service political agendas amid the ongoing shutdown. They argue these firings could violate established labor protections during periods of government inaction, as pointed out by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and supported by numerous Democratic leaders who have criticized the administration's tactics as an attempt at intimidation, according to India Times and TRT Global.

As the shutdown continues, essential government services have halted, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed and military personnel at risk of missing pay due to Congressional stalemates exacerbated by the administration's tactics. With tensions high and no resolution in sight, it remains to be seen how Congress will respond, as both sides remain steadfast in their positions on funding and healthcare solutions, according to India Times and India Times.