The Trump administration is delaying plans for mass federal firings amid a prolonged government shutdown, as Republican lawmakers grow increasingly wary of the political fallout, while Democrats stand firm on their healthcare demands, deepening the impasse. This shift comes as the federal government entered its seventh day of shutdown on October 7, 2025, with Senate Democrats blocking a sixth Republican attempt to pass a stopgap funding measure.
Democrats insist any bill must address expiring ObamaCare tax credits, while Republicans argue that negotiations should happen after the government reopens, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay. Initially, the White House threatened swift mass layoffs through Reduction in Force (RIF) plans, with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought recommending agencies face steep cuts.
President Trump hailed the shutdown as an “unprecedented opportunity” to reduce the federal workforce, but administration officials have since postponed RIF notices, acknowledging the political risks of appearing gleeful about job losses. Republican lawmakers have expressed private concerns that mass firings could backfire, with one House member warning that “slash and burn” talk turns off moderate voters.
Several GOP senators, including Thom Tillis and Shelley Moore Capito, have raised alarms directly with the White House, fearing the strategy could undermine their messaging advantage. Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, remain steadfast, accusing House Republicans of inaction while federal employees suffer.
Schumer highlighted the irony of “federal workers working and not getting paid” versus “House Republicans paid and not working,” intensifying pressure on the GOP to compromise. Complicating matters, a White House memo suggested that furloughed workers may not receive back pay, despite a 2019 law guaranteeing it.
Trump stated that back pay “depends on who we’re talking about,” adding that most workers would be cared for but some might not “deserve” it. This sparked bipartisan criticism, with Tillis calling it “bad strategy” and Sen. Susan Collins asserting that the issue was settled by law. The OMB’s earlier directives on mass firings and withholding funds from blue states have yet to yield actual layoffs, providing temporary reprieve.
However, the administration warns that firings may become inevitable if the deadlock persists, with Trump hinting at permanent program eliminations “in four or five days” if no deal is reached. As the shutdown drags on, the political stakes rise, with both parties entrenched and federal workers bearing the brunt. The absence of a viable off-ramp suggests the crisis could worsen, potentially leading to broader economic and social impacts unless a compromise is found.
