Chicago – October 12, 2025
Vice President JD Vance warned that deeper cuts to the federal workforce are imminent as the government shutdown entered its 12th day. Vance emphasized that the longer the shutdown continues, the more severe and painful the reductions in federal employees will be. The ongoing deadlock in Congress has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay.
While the Trump administration is working to ensure military personnel receive pay and some essential services like food assistance for low-income Americans continue, the Office of Management and Budget has disclosed plans to terminate over 4,000 federal employees amid the shutdown. Departments affected include Education, Treasury, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Vance placed blame on Democrats for the impasse, stating the difficult position was a result of their actions, and justified the cuts as a choice between funding military and food aid or paying federal bureaucrats. Labor unions have challenged the administration’s aggressive furlough and layoff approach, deeming it unlawful and unnecessary.
Despite legal opposition and public concerns, the administration and congressional Republicans remain steadfast in enforcing deeper workforce cuts unless a budget agreement is reached.
