Hey fam, big news outta the US: President Donald Trump's admin has officially dismissed 4,108 federal employees since the government shutdown kicked off on October 1. 😮
Earlier estimates pegged the cuts at around 4,278, but a court filing by the U.S. Department of Justice trimmed that number down. Still, with about 2 million civilians in the U.S. workforce, these layoffs are more than just stats—they're real folks feeling the crunch.
So, what's a government shutdown? Basically, without an approved spending plan from Congress, many agencies hit pause—furloughing workers (read: unpaid leave) or, in this case, outright dismissals. Think paused visa processing, stalled disease tracking, and delayed college prep programs for students aiming to study abroad. 📉
Federal unions aren't taking it lying down. They've sued to block the firings, arguing mass layoffs aren't an 'essential service' under shutdown rules. A judge will hear the case on October 15—stay tuned for more drama in the courtroom. ⚖️
Meanwhile, lawmakers from MD and VA rallied near the White House, slamming the move as unfair to families—20% of federal staff live around DC, MD, and VA, after all. As Rep. Don Beyer put it, "We will not be defined by small people who have not a drop of empathy in their soul." 👊
Reference(s):
Trump administration says 4,108 workers fired since shutdown began
cgtn.com
