The White House has finalized a list of federal agencies where large-scale layoffs of civil servants are expected to take place, with the official announcement likely to be made in the coming days, reports Baltimore Chronicle citing CNN.
According to the network, one administration official indicated that the announcement of reductions in force (RIFs) could be made as early as Saturday or Sunday. While some details are still being worked out, the list of agencies was primarily drawn up by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in coordination with federal departments.
President Donald Trump met with OMB Director Russell Vought, later sharing details of the discussion on his Truth Social account. He emphasized that the administration is determining which “pro-Democratic agencies” might face cutbacks and whether these layoffs will be temporary or permanent.
CNN notes that some of the targeted agencies were singled out for their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. However, the administration’s main argument is that these agencies do not align with the president’s priorities and represent what officials view as a waste of taxpayer funds.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the government is focusing on institutions “that do not reflect the president’s values” and are seen as “an unnecessary burden on the federal budget.”
This development follows the partial shutdown of the U.S. government on October 1, triggered by deep partisan divisions that prevented Congress and the White House from reaching an agreement on federal funding.
Earlier we wrote that India demands U.S. permission for Iran and Venezuela oil to reduce Russian imports.
