The threat of mass layoffs in federal services has been brandished by Donald Trump since the beginning of the budget blockage, for which the Republican majority and the Democratic opposition are blaming each other.

"Staff reductions have begun" for federal employees. This was announced by White House Budget Director Russ Vought on Friday on X, as the United States finds itself in a state of budgetary paralysis. His office specified that these were "significant" layoffs, without providing figures or details on the profiles of the individuals affected.

The threat of mass layoffs in federal services has been brandished by US President Donald Trump since the start, on October 1, of the budget blockade, for which the Republican majority and the Democratic opposition have been blaming each other.

Non-essential functions

The shutdown has placed hundreds of thousands of American civil servants on compulsory leave, as they are considered to be performing functions that are not essential to the daily running of the country. It was from this pool that the American executive branch threatened to initiate layoffs, claiming that they would be attributable to the Democratic camp, which refuses to give in to Congress.

Republicans are proposing an extension of the current budget, with the same spending levels, while Democrats are calling for an extension of subsidies for health insurance programs for low-income households.

Donald Trump's party holds a majority in both houses of Congress, but due to Senate rules, 60 out of 100 votes are required to pass a budget. Given the current state of play, at least eight members of the opposition are expected to support the Republican bill, but only three have done so so far.

2.3 million federal civil servants not paid

However, the leaders of the presidential majority hope to succeed in forcing more people to give in as the days go by. Throughout the blockade, all of the more than 2.3 million federal civil servants are not being paid, nor are the more than 1.3 million military personnel.