Mass layoffs in US as Trump administration fires over 4,200 federal employees amid govt shutdown

Amid the ongoing tug-of-war between the Republicans and Democrats, resulting in a partial government shutdown for the past 10 days, the Trump administration has axed as many as or more than 4,200 federal workers, it said in a court filing. According to reports, the mass layoffs in the US federal government affected seven agencies, including the Treasury Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education, and the Justice Department, the court filing said. 

Amid the mass layoffs, which have affected several families, federal employee labour unions in the Northern District of California are suing the Trump administration. However, the federal administration said in a court filing that the unions' request should be refused as they do not possess the legal right to sue over federal personnel decisions. A federal judge will hear the case on October 15, i.e., Wednesday. 

US government shutdown 

A United States government 'shutdown' kicked off on Wednesday, i.e., October 1, after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a consensus on funding federal operations. The shutdown is likely to throw the nation into a whirlpool of disruptions and uncertainty as government offices across the country close their doors.

The US government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday after the White House and Congress failed to reach a funding deal. On one hand, Republicans backed a short-term measure to fund the federal government at its current levels through November 21; on the other, the Democrats turned rebellious, insisting the measure address their concerns regarding healthcare.

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