🔗 Share this article

Massive terminations of US federal employees have commenced, as GOP legislators apply influence on Democratic counterparts to end a federal closure. The White House budget office described the layoffs as “significant,” with unions for federal workers bringing the matter to litigation. The president remarked that the job losses “will be a lot” and implied that those losing jobs would be in regions that were “Democrat oriented.”

Administration Declares Government Employee Reductions

The White House revealed layoffs of government employees on the end of the week, fulfilling a warning it had issued in response to the US government shutdown, which now seems likely to stretch into a consecutive third week. The head of the White House office of budget management wrote on online platforms that “reduction-in-force procedures have started,” referring to the government’s process to let employees go.

Chief Executive Threatens 100% China Tariffs

The American leader has vowed to impose additional US import taxes of 100% on Chinese goods from next month, charging Beijing of “very hostile” actions to restrict exports of minerals needed for US manufacturing. Financial markets dropped significantly after the American leader reignited public disputes with the Chinese government, and raised the prospect of a further contentious trade war between the planet's biggest economies.

National Guard Troops Seen on Memphis Roads

Reserve soldiers were seen monitoring in the Tennessee city for the initial occasion on the weekend's eve, as part of the president's controversial government initiative, amid fierce court battles as he was blocked from sending troops to the Illinois city and a judicial decision was pending in the Oregon city.

University Declines Administration Proposal to Overhaul Procedures

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has emerged as the first US university to formally turn down a executive proposal that would overhaul university policies in return for preferential entry to government money.

Administration Slams Alleged Nobel Peace Prize Omission

The White House has denounced the Norwegian Nobel committee's decision to grant the Nobel peace prize to a candidate besides the US leader. “The award panel demonstrated they place political motives over harmony,” wrote a White House advisor and head of communications.

What Else Occurred This Day:

• The president underwent what he has characterized as a “semiannual health exam” at the military health facility.
• Up to 40 US professors have been fired or disciplined after conservative efforts targeted their comments on a violent incident, creating a “atmosphere of fear” on university grounds.
• Prominent New York Democrats have come together behind a public figure a 24 hours after she was indicted on financial allegations by a federal prosecutor selected by the administration.