Alltimepost.com Sincerity of Purpose
While the total number of affected workers has not yet been confirmed, insiders said hundreds of thousands of civil servants are expected to lose their jobs in the coming weeks.
The United States President Donald Trump on Friday sacked thousands of government employees, blaming opposition Democrats for forcing his hand amid the continuing government shutdown.
According to White House officials, the mass layoffs affect key agencies including the Treasury Department, the Department of Health, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Departments of Education and Commerce, as well as the Cybersecurity division of Homeland Security.
While the total number of affected workers has not yet been confirmed, insiders said hundreds of thousands of civil servants are expected to lose their jobs in the coming weeks.
President Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to shrink the size of government, accused Democrats of “sabotaging America’s economic recovery” by refusing to back his budget proposals, which include deep spending cuts and major civil service reforms.
“They started this thing,” Trump was quoted by Reuters calling the job cuts “Democrat-oriented.”
Trump’s Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but need Democratic votes in the U.S. Senate to pass any measure that would fund the government.
Democrats are holding out for an extension of health-insurance subsidies, arguing health costs will increase dramatically for many of the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire federal workers during the shutdown standoff, in its 10th day on Friday, and has suggested his administration will aim primarily at parts of the government championed by Democrats.
President Donald Trump has also ordered the freezing of more than $28 billion in infrastructure funds meant for New York, California, and Illinois — states dominated by Democratic voters and known for their vocal criticism of his administration.
In a related development, the U.S. Department of Justice disclosed in a court filing that over 4,200 federal employees have received layoff notices across seven government agencies, including more than 1,400 at the Treasury Department and at least 1,100 at the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Until Republicans get serious, they own this – every job lost, every family hurt, every service gutted is because of their decisions,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Labor unions representing federal workers have sued to stop the layoffs, saying they would be illegal during a shutdown.
The administration said in a Friday court filing that the unions’ request should be denied because they lack the legal right to sue over federal personnel decisions.
A federal judge is due to hear the case on October 15.
The government is required by law to give workers 60 days’ notice ahead of any layoffs, though that can be shortened to 30 days.
Some Republicans objected to the layoffs, including Senator Susan Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Regardless of whether federal employees have been working without pay or have been furloughed, their work is incredibly important to serving the public,” Collins’ statement was quoted by Reuters.
SAHARA REPORTERS
