Several federal departments, including treasury and health and human services, are likely to be affected by the mass firings. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started, an attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown dragged into a 10th day. Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. In a court filing,Read more