Trump administration officials have confirmed that large-scale federal government layoffs have begun

The Trump administration has begun laying off federal employees, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced Friday. Trump and Vought have repeatedly threatened to use the shutdown to lay off thousands of federal employees, whom Trump has often referred to as members of the "dark side." "RIFs have begun," Vought said in announcing the cuts. The "layoffs" (RIFs) are the latest blow to federal employees, which have been reduced by 200,000 this year. A spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget confirmed that RIFs have begun and are large, according to the AXIOS website. They did not specify which departments have been affected. An administration official recently said 100,000 more are expected to leave by the end of the year.