White House: Shutdown Layoffs Will Be ‘North Of 10,000’
White House budget director Russ Vought is projecting that over 10,000 federal employees will be terminated due to the current government shutdown.
Vought pledged to “continue the RIFs,” alluding to the reduction-in-force notifications issued by agencies to terminate government employees on Friday.
Shortly after Vought’s statement, a federal judge in California introduced ambiguity into Vought’s commitment by prohibiting the layoffs associated with the closure. The Trump administration will contest that verdict.
Approximately 4,000 government employees have been terminated, as shown by court documents; however, the budget director anticipates that the total will likely exceed 10,000, as noted by Politico.
“We want to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy—not just the funding, but the bureaucracy—and we now have an opportunity to do that,” Vought added on The Charlie Kirk Show, speaking in his first live interview since the shutdown began.
Vought anticipated that the layoffs would affect agencies misaligned with the Trump administration’s priorities, including environmental justice initiatives at the Department of Energy and EPA, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The remarks were made a day after President Donald Trump pledged to provide a new list of programs for elimination on Friday, should the shutdown persist until the week’s conclusion.
“We’re closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we were opposed to,” Trump said Tuesday. “And they’re never going to come back in many cases.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Wednesday that the Trump administration’s effort to keep military families paid during the ongoing government shutdown is only a temporary fix that could soon expire.
During a press conference at the Capitol, Johnson said the administration’s move to reroute Pentagon funds to cover military paychecks is a short-term measure that cannot continue indefinitely, Politico reported.
“The problem we have right now is that, in spite of President Trump’s heroic efforts to make sure they get paid, that is a temporary fix,” Johnson told reporters.
“The executive branch, his help, is not permanent. It can’t be,” he added. “And if the Democrats continue to vote to keep the government closed as they have done so many times, then we know U.S. troops are going to risk missing a full paycheck at the end of this month.”
The Trump administration authorized the Department of Defense to use unspent research and development funds to pay active-duty service members during the shutdown, which began earlier this month after the Senate failed to pass a funding measure.
The move provided temporary relief for military families who were preparing to miss their paychecks.
Johnson credited the president for taking action, but said the measure does not address the larger problem.
“The reason that the way they were able to get the troops paid for this paycheck — and as I said, this is not an enduring solution, because we will run out of the funds — but there was some unspent funds in, effectively, R&D accounts in defense,” Johnson said.
“They moved that over to prioritize payment of those who are putting their lives on the line today and who have families in serious situations,” he added.
The government shutdown has resulted in thousands of federal employees being furloughed or temporarily laid off.
Those deemed “essential,” including active-duty military and federal law enforcement, continue to work but often without pay until the shutdown ends.
The House passed a short-term funding measure known as a continuing resolution on September 19 to keep the government operating through November 21.
The measure would give lawmakers more time to negotiate a comprehensive spending agreement for fiscal year 2026.
To advance in the Senate, the resolution requires 60 votes.
So far, only three Democrats have joined Republicans in voting to end the shutdown.
In a development that is sending shockwaves through the political landscape, Republicans have received encouraging news heading into the 2026 midterm elections.New data reveals that ten longtime Democratic strongholds in California have flipped red, marking one of the most significant partisan shifts in the Golden State in decades.The counties of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Fresno, Merced, Butte, Nevada, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus—once reliable Democratic bastions—were carried by the GOP after years of voting blue.For Republicans, this outcome signals more than just isolated victories; it represents a potential realignment of California politics, one that could transform the state from a deep-blue Democratic stronghold into a competitive battleground.The data paints a striking picture. In San Bernardino County, Trump secured 51.2% of the vote compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’s 46.4%, marking the first Republican advantage there in decades.Orange County—long regarded as the crown jewel of suburban battlegrounds—narrowly tilted Republican, with Trump earning 48.9% compared to Harris’s 48.4%.While Harris ultimately carried California statewide with a large margin, her victory was far less commanding than Joe Biden’s in 2020. Biden’s overwhelming support in California had cemented the state as a Democratic fortress, but Harris’s weaker performance suggests cracks in that foundation. The GOP’s gains across multiple counties reveal not only frustration with Democratic leadership but also growing momentum for Republican candidates across the state.Adding further intrigue, several tight congressional races remain undecided. Republican incumbents and challengers alike—Michelle Steel, Ken Calvert, Mike Garcia, and Scott Baugh—are holding narrow leads or locked in battles that could shift the balance of power in California’s House delegation.California has long been considered safely Democratic, with its large population and progressive policies giving Democrats a commanding electoral advantage.Yet, the latest results suggest that Republicans are making significant inroads with voters who previously leaned blue. If the trend continues, California could be redefined as a true battleground state by the time of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.The surge of Republican support has been driven by concerns over taxation, crime, and economic hardships, particularly in suburban and rural areas where voters feel increasingly alienated from Democratic leadership in Sacramento.The erosion of Democratic dominance in these counties has also been attributed to shifting demographics, with many Hispanic and African American voters moving toward the GOP.
California is not alone in experiencing a political realignment. Other historically Democratic states, including New Jersey, are showing similar patterns. On July 21, 2025, Kate Gibbs was appointed Executive Director of the NJGOP, and she has vowed to make New Jersey competitive again.“I’m proud to be serving as the new Executive Director of the NJGOP,” Gibbs said following her appointment.She emphasized the party’s renewed commitment to challenging Democrats and enhancing election integrity, noting, “Under Chairman Glenn Paulsen’s leadership, we’re taking the fight straight to the New Jersey Democrats.”She pledged to strengthen the party’s ground game while working hand-in-hand with the Republican National Committee to protect election integrity.Gibbs’ appointment symbolizes a broader GOP push to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with Democratic governance in states where the party has long dominated.In New Jersey, local media has reported a seismic shift in voter registration trends. According to The New Jersey Globe, Democrats now make up 37.6% of registered voters, while unaffiliated voters account for 37%, and Republicans represent 24.3%.While Democrats still hold a plurality, the narrowing gap suggests a significant opening for the GOP to expand its influence in the state.This shift underscores a broader pattern in deep-blue states: voters are increasingly frustrated with high taxes, economic burdens, and a perceived lack of accountability from Democratic leaders.Republican strategists are working to channel this frustration into electoral gains, aiming to flip districts and weaken long-standing Democratic dominance.Conservative activist Scott Presler has been at the forefront of efforts to mobilize Republican voters in traditionally Democratic states. Presler argues that voters in deep-blue areas are fed up with the status quo and are ready for change.“The way that I look at it is, New Jersey has been voting blue for so long, and the definition of insanity is you’re repeating the same thing over and over, and you’re not having success,” Presler said.He emphasized the economic struggles many residents face, noting, “These people truly feel that they are getting the short end of the stick: their businesses, they are overtaxed; their homes, they are overtaxed. They feel the economic burden.”Perhaps most significantly, Presler pointed to a dramatic shift toward Trump among racial minorities, particularly in communities with large Hispanic and African American populations.“There has definitely been a major shift from Democrat to Trump in areas that have significant Hispanic and African American populations,” he explained.This trend could prove decisive in the coming elections. Democrats have traditionally relied on strong support from minority voters, but any erosion of that support could severely weaken their electoral prospects in states once considered safe.While Republicans celebrate these gains, political analysts caution against assuming a permanent realignment. Some suggest that the results reflect not so much a surge of enthusiasm for Trump or the GOP but rather a lack of enthusiasm for Harris and the Democratic brand.Political strategist Patrick Murray summarized the dilemma: “In New Jersey and in other states like New York, a lot of Democrats just sat on their hands and didn’t vote. There is no question that the Democratic brand is not as strong as it has been in the bluest areas of the country, and that includes New Jersey. Was the lack of Democratic voter mobilization in 2024 an endorsement of Donald Trump or a statement about Kamala Harris and the party in power?”Murray’s comments reflect the complexity of the current political environment. While Republicans are clearly making gains, it remains uncertain whether those gains represent lasting support for the GOP or temporary dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.The Republican advances in California and New Jersey carry significant implications for the 2026 midterms. If Republicans can build on their momentum, they could flip additional House seats and strengthen their chances of retaking control of Congress.Moreover, these shifts could set the stage for the 2028 presidential election, with California and New Jersey potentially emerging as key battlegrounds.For Democrats, the warning signs are clear. Harris’s weaker-than-expected performance in California and the erosion of voter enthusiasm in New Jersey suggest that the party must reevaluate its strategy.Issues such as high taxation, economic stagnation, and crime remain potent vulnerabilities, particularly in suburban areas where swing voters often decide elections.The road to 2026 will be defined by whether Republicans can maintain their momentum and whether Democrats can re-energize their base. The latest data suggests that the political map of the United States is shifting in ways few could have predicted just a few years ago.Republicans have reason to celebrate as counties in deep-blue California flip red and voter registration trends in New Jersey suggest growing dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.While it remains to be seen whether these shifts represent a lasting realignment or temporary discontent, the data clearly shows that Democrats can no longer take their strongholds for granted.For Republicans, the path forward lies in capitalizing on voter frustration, expanding outreach to minority communities, and continuing to challenge Democratic dominance in states long considered safe.For Democrats, the challenge will be to rebuild trust, reenergize their base, and address the economic and social concerns that are driving voters away.The stakes are high as the nation moves toward the 2026 midterms, with both parties preparing for what could be one of the most competitive election cycles in recent memory.