A top U.S. House Democrat has accused congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump of playing politics with the lives of federal workers as it began a wave of mass layoffs on Friday.

"Let’s be clear: Republicans aren’t laying off hardworking Americans because they have to. It’s because they want to. All to pay for billionaires’ tax cuts," U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the House’s Democratic whip, said in a statement.

The Trump administration announced Friday that it had begun what it described as “substantial” layoffs of federal workers, as the government remains shuttered due to the inability of Congress to reach a funding deal , NBC News reported.

“The RIFs have begun,” White House budget director Russ Vought said on X, referring to “reduction in force” for workers.

A spokes

See Full Page