OMB says RIFs of furloughed Feds have started

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wanting to selectively and carefully reduce the federal workforce is not a bad idea at all. But the way this White House is going about it is horrifically cruel, and we should never do it like this.

So no, I do not approve of the punitively massive layoffs going on right now, or the way DOGE slash-and-burned their way into computer systems, data sets and livelihoods.

100% I think most people can agree that government bureaucracy has gotten way to big. However, the way that this administration has gone about reducing it has been unnecessarily brutal and without any disregard to the human beings who's lives have been impacted. While it seems like an attempt to punish the Democrats, many Republicans (including Maga) have also been impacted. Also, it's not just the government employees - but all the adjacent businesses (contractors and restaurants that primarily service government employees) that have been impacted. It's also odd that this administration seems to have so much money to send to foreign nations and perpetuate wars - but it cannot seem to keep its own citizen employed or provide affordable healthcare. Meanwhile, we are being gaslit to believe that our economy is booming, but of course the reality if far different. This gaslighting may lead to not only resentment from the masses, but mental illness.

I think most people who think the government "has gotten way too big" don't understand what the federal government does that makes their lives better. I think most of us who understand all the things the government does for us do not think it's way too big. Too inefficient, yes. Too big, no.

[Anonymous]

Who would ever want to be a fed again? When they actually need to fill certain roles who in their right mind would apply??!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who would ever want to be a fed again? When they actually need to fill certain roles who in their right mind would apply??!!

They supposedly got 20k applications for a DHS "homeland defender" position. It was fully remote, max GS12 promotion level, 50k signing bonus, no experience or education required. I anticipate they will increasingly have to offer that sort of "perks" to get people to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

That's crazy that individuals are being targeted based on who they voted for - do we live in a free country any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

That's crazy that individuals are being targeted based on who they voted for - do we live in a free country any more.

The situation will get worse with Palantir surveilling everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

That's crazy that individuals are being targeted based on who they voted for - do we live in a free country any more.

We aren’t sure yet, but now it occurs to me that states were instructed to turn over voting records and some balked- PA refused and trump withheld funds…I wonder if this is how they got access.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is withholding sensitive personal voter information, such as Social Security and driver's license numbers, from the Trump administration due to state law and privacy concerns. This has led to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against the state, which is currently ongoing.”
Other states that refused: California, New York, Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire. The others gave in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

That's crazy that individuals are being targeted based on who they voted for - do we live in a free country any more.

The situation will get worse with Palantir surveilling everyone.

I predicted this years ago and have always been “independent” for this very reason. That and I don’t need neighbors looking up my address to see how I vote. Which I always check when moving in to a new neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people in Patent Office who were RIF’d. These are folks with PhDs.

Huh? Patent Office isn’t even furloughed…

Several in comms office RIF’d in the first day of the shutdown.

They apparently RIFed people in IT as well. Given the IT at the USPTO is already unstable, this seems like a very bad idea.

Ok but those are not people with PhDs… That was my confusion. People with phDs are not in comms or IT. They’re in the core.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

I thought they were just “assuming” the political affiliation based on the agency mission and job type. Like obviously more of the scientific and social justice work would have more democrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

HHS, Education, FDA/NIH

FDA commissioner says he has assurance from WH that agency will not have more RIFs.

Has anyone at FDA had any RIFs this go-around?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wanting to selectively and carefully reduce the federal workforce is not a bad idea at all. But the way this White House is going about it is horrifically cruel, and we should never do it like this.

So no, I do not approve of the punitively massive layoffs going on right now, or the way DOGE slash-and-burned their way into computer systems, data sets and livelihoods.

i have been thru so many "downsizings" and they are never done selectively and carefully. it is impossible to be "fair" when dealing with large organizations.

Just fire every other person.

only way to do it.

Are you a dumb MAGA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who would ever want to be a fed again? When they actually need to fill certain roles who in their right mind would apply??!!

They supposedly got 20k applications for a DHS "homeland defender" position. It was fully remote, max GS12 promotion level, 50k signing bonus, no experience or education required. I anticipate they will increasingly have to offer that sort of "perks" to get people to apply.

Ok but that's a jobs program for failure to launch MAGA and low level patronage awards for MAGA supporters. I think the PP meant to ask who would take civil service jobs that seek to honor the constitution and work toward the public's benefit.

[Anonymous]

Unions Challenge President’s Plan to Cut Federal Workers During Shutdown
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/15/us/trump-shutdown-news

A set of unions will ask a federal judge on Wednesday to block the Trump administration from conducting mass federal layoffs during the government shutdown, arguing that the firings would be illegal and motivated by political retribution.

The labor groups will present their arguments at a hearing before a court in California, just days after the administration took the first steps toward dismissing about 4,000 workers — the latest in a series of cuts that President Trump has threatened as the fiscal showdown barrels into its third week.

At issue is the extent to which Mr. Trump may fire employees simply because federal funding for their positions has expired. The president and his aides have frequently expressed delight in the opportunity afforded by the ongoing shutdown, which began Oct. 1, as they look to continue whittling down government while punishing Democrats who refuse their fiscal demands.

The unions, led by the American Federation of Government Employees, contend that Mr. Trump cannot remove civil servants without a clear directive from Congress — particularly at a moment when Washington is supposed to be performing only the most vital services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But also, IRS is desperately hiring. None of this makes any sense.

He is insane. That's why it does not make sense.

He says he will impact "Democrat" jobs or agencies. What are those, exactly? The IRS?

It’s being investigated, there may have been access to employee voting records.

That's crazy that individuals are being targeted based on who they voted for - do we live in a free country any more.

There are not records of how you voted. There are records of how you register, and records of what primary you voted in, and records of how you donate - but they cannot look up your actual ballot.