Partnership for Public Service Statement on reductions in force at federal agencies amid government shutdown

October 10, 2025

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier in response to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s post on X stating that further reductions in force have begun as the government shutdown continues: 

“These unnecessary and misguided reductions in force will further hollow out our federal government, rob it of critical expertise and hobble its capacity to effectively serve the public. Food safety, benefit delivery for veterans and seniors and the processing of small business loans are all essential for our nation’s wellbeing even while being halted during a government shutdown. 

“We are already witnessing the damage from shuttered federal programs and the depletion of the federal workforce nationwide. The Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker has found that 201,000 civil servants have already left the federal workforce due to earlier reductions in force, retirements and deferred resignation offers. 

“Across the country, food banks are struggling to meet demand. Local cultural institutions and public libraries face layoffs, service reductions and potential closure. National parks are understaffed. Scientific research has slowed or stopped in many places. These new reductions in force will only deepen the real harm being done to communities throughout the United States. 

“The partial government shutdown does not justify these further cuts, and it is wrong to use civil servants as hostages in this ongoing breakdown of our public institutions.” 

For more information about how the government shutdown is impacting federal employees and the public, visit the Partnership’s government shutdown resource hub.  

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.    

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.  

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