Amid an ongoing federal government shutdown, President Donald Trump has issued a directive to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, ensuring military personnel receive their scheduled pay on October 15. This move comes as thousands of federal employees face pay freezes or layoffs, marking an unprecedented escalation in the political standoff between Republicans and Democrats. Trump emphasized his commitment to the military, stating on his Truth Social platform, ‘I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.’
The shutdown, now in its 12th day, stems from a deadlock over a spending plan. Democrats refuse to support a Republican proposal unless it preserves expiring tax credits that reduce health insurance costs and reverses Trump’s cuts to Medicaid. Republicans, meanwhile, accuse Democrats of unnecessarily prolonging the shutdown and causing widespread disruption.
In a controversial move, the Trump administration has begun laying off thousands of federal workers, citing the shutdown as justification. White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought announced the start of ‘reductions in force’ (RIFs), with over 4,000 employees dismissed across seven agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Treasury Department, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The CDC’s Washington DC office was entirely laid off, affecting critical roles such as Ebola response and immunization efforts.
Major unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, have filed a lawsuit in northern California to block the layoffs, calling them ‘disgraceful’ and illegal. However, the Justice Department argued that a restraining order would ‘irreparably harm the government.’ The White House has indicated that more layoffs are imminent, with agencies like the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency likely to see further cuts.
The political fallout from the shutdown continues to escalate, with both parties blaming each other for the impasse. Trump’s directive to pay military personnel may alleviate some pressure on congressional leaders, but the broader impact on federal workers and essential services remains a growing concern.