DEVELOPING: Federal Layoffs Underway, White House Offers Few Details on Scale or Impact

Breaking News: Federal Layoffs Underway, White House Offers Few Details The White House has confirmed that "substantial" layoffs of federal workers have begun, with at least one agency confirming reduction-in-force notices are being sent to employees. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russell Vought announced the start of the layoff process on social media. According to OMB, the reduction-in-force process is underway and is "substantial" in scope, but officials declined to provide specific numbers or details on how many people are affected. At least one federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has confirmed that employees across multiple divisions have received layoff notices. The layoffs appear to be a direct consequence of the ongoing government shutdown, which was triggered by a dispute between Democrats and Republicans over funding for various government programs. The White House had previously threatened to slash the size of government if the shutdown continued. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear how many federal workers will ultimately lose their jobs or what impact these layoffs will have on government services and operations. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. This is a developing story. Please check back for further updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*