Democratic Committee Leaders Condemn Trump Administration’s Illegal Mass Firings of Federal Workers During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and 20 Democratic Ranking Members of House Committees, wrote to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director - and Project 2025 Architect - Russell Vought demanding an immediate end to the Trump Administration's unlawful reductions in force (RIFs) being carried out during the ongoing government shutdown. The letter follows a recent federal court ruling which temporarily blocked the mass terminations and raised serious legal concerns about their motivation and execution. The full letter can be found here.

These politically motivated firings have already crippled federal services at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury, including undermining epidemic disease-prevention initiatives, special education programs, civil rights protections, and more.

In the letter to Director Vought, the lawmakers wrote, "We write regarding the Trump Administration's illegal reductions in force (RIF) targeting thousands of federal employees during the current lapse in federal appropriations. On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Judge Susan Illston ordered the Administration to halt mass firings while she considers claims made by several unions that these firings are illegal. In her ruling, she made clear that statements made by you and other members of the Trump Administration detailing intent to use firings of federal employees for political purposes and to target "Democrat agencies" are unacceptable, stating: "You can't do that in a nation of laws. We have laws here, and the things that are being articulated here are not within the law." A lapse in appropriations grants you no power to fire workers or to purge the federal workforce. We demand that you immediately comply with Judge Illston's order, cease these illegal actions, rescind any RIF notices issued since the start of this shutdown, and provide documentary evidence of your compliance with the law."

The lawmakers demand that OMB provide all relevant documentation, including internal communications and planning materials related to the RIFs, by November 4, 2025, as part of the Committee's investigation.

Ranking Member Robert Garcia was joined by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. James P. McGovern, Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules, Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Rep. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Rep. Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, Rep. James A. Himes, Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and Rep. Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

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