Judge leans to block RIFs; OMB expects 10,000 | JQJO

As the shutdown drags into a third week, White House budget director Russell Vought said the Trump administration could move to fire more than 10,000 federal employees, calling it a chance to “shutter the bureaucracy.” The White House has already sent about 4,200 reduction-in-force notices, a figure revised slightly downward Tuesday, and Vought said the total could climb “north of 10,000.” Unions have sued to stop the firings, and in a hearing Wednesday, a federal judge said she is inclined to grant their request for now.