Sierra Club Statement as Trump Administration Begins Mass Layoffs of Federal Workers

Washington, DC - Today, the Trump administration announced that it has begun the process of laying off thousands of federal workers via reductions-in-force (RIF) notifications sent out across agencies. "The RIFs have begun," Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wroteon X shortly after Noon Eastern.

Vought, an architect and author of Project 2025, has previously advocated for debilitating cuts to federal funding sayinghe wants federal employees to be "viewed as the villains" and that he wants "funding to be shut down so that the EPA can't do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so." Just last week, Trump sharedan AI-generated music video of Vought, walking to the Capitol dressed in a hood and gown and carrying a scythe, calling him "the Reaper."

The federal government is now in its 10th day of a shutdown as Congressional Republicans have thus far refused to negotiate a bipartisan funding solution with Congressional Democrats.

In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:

"Today is a day that Donald Trump and Russ Vought have likely long looked forward to, slashing the federal workforce and leaving proud civil servants uncertain about their future. But all of us will suffer from these shameful actions, as working families continue to see costs skyrocket and necessary government services come to a grinding halt. This shutdown not only takes a toll on the American people but also our national parks and public lands, as the Trump administration has forced them to remain open with only skeleton crews working to maintain them. While we still do not know the full scale of these layoffs, it will be our people and planet who sadly pay the price."

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.