WORLD
Several job cuts on as US shutdown enters 12th day, Mr Trump blames Democrats
- IBJ Bureau
- Oct 12, 2025
President Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for his decision to lay off thousands of workers across the US government, as he has followed through on his threat to cut the federal workforce during the government shutdown.
Job cuts were under way at the Treasury Department, the US health agency, the Internal Revenue Service and the Departments of Education, Commerce and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity division, spokespeople have said. The total extent of the layoffs is not immediately clear.
Roughly 3,00,000 federal civilian workers had already been set to leave their jobs this year due to a downsizing campaign initiated earlier this year by Trump.
“They started this thing,” Mr Trump has told reporters during an event in the Oval Office, calling the job cuts “Democrat-oriented”.
Mr Trump’s Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but need Democratic votes in the US Senate to pass any measure that would fund the government.
Democrats are holding out for an extension of health insurance subsidies, arguing that health costs will increase dramatically for many of the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire federal workers during the shutdown standoff, in its 12th day on Sunday, and has suggested that his administration will aim primarily at parts of the government championed by Democrats.
Mr Trump has also ordered the freezing of at least $28 billion in infrastructure funds for New York, California and Illinois – all home to sizable populations of Democratic voters and critics of the administration.
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