Democrats just keep digging themselves deeper into the hole with the Schumer Shutdown. They’re the ones holding the government hostage — not Republicans — all so Chuck Schumer can flex for the far-left base and prove he’s still “tough.”
This shutdown isn’t about policy or principle; it’s about Schumer’s political survival. He’s terrified AOC might come for his seat, so he’s willing to let millions of Americans suffer just to look like he’s standing up to Trump and the GOP.
But in the process of trying to score political points, Democrats have handed the Trump administration a gift — more power to make cuts. And now, after ten days of this Schumer Shutdown, the gloves are off:
“The RIFs have begun,” White House Budget Director Russell Vought posted on social media Friday, referring to reductions in force, the federal government’s term for layoffs.
Thousands of people will be laid off as a result of the shutdown, according to a senior White House official. The scope of the cuts was not immediately clear.
Department of Health and Human Services employees were among those affected, according to HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon.
Bottom line? This one’s on the Democrats, plain and simple. They’re the ones blocking a clean bill and keeping the government shut down — no amount of spin can change that.
President Trump has them right where he wants them. If they try to drag this out any longer, they’ll only tighten the noose around their own narrative. And for everyone who’s been calling for a leaner, more efficient government? This is exactly the kind of showdown they’ve been waiting for — and they’re cheering it on:
Checkmate. https://t.co/cDXGzHSn0P pic.twitter.com/VMUsC8HFZ0
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) October 10, 2025
The smaller the government, the greater the individual. ?? https://t.co/2WKGNDOAHB
— Erika Donalds (@ErikaDonalds) October 10, 2025
Russ Vought has been UNLEASHED.
Bad day to be a government agency studying the gender fluidity of South African tree frogs. https://t.co/QmY4tJeDTw
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) October 10, 2025
Some agencies that have been hit are already sounding off:
A spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department, in a statement to CNBC, said, “HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown.”
“HHS under the Biden administration became a bloated bureaucracy, growing its budget by 38% and its workforce by 17%,” department spokesman Andrew Nixon said.
“All HHS employees receiving reduction-in-force notices were designated non-essential by their respective divisions. HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda,” Nixon said.
A number of Treasury Department employees also have received RIF notices.
Vought’s announcement just backed the Democrats into a corner. They can either end this shutdown charade or watch as more government jobs get cut — their choice. It’s clear they’ve badly miscalculated this one.
Now, predictably, the panic has started. The American Federation of Government Employees, the biggest federal workers’ union, is already rushing to court to try to stop the fallout.
Now the heat’s on Chuck Schumer. He’s the one who bragged that “every day gets better” for Democrats during this shutdown — but let’s see if he still believes that as the fallout mounts.
