‘Democrats gave administration an unenviable choice’: White House on planned layoffs

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

‘We don’t like laying off people’

“The Democrats have given the administration this opportunity, and we don’t like laying people off,” she added. “Nobody wants to do that, but sometimes in government you have to make tough decisions.”

Leavitt also discussed a report that said military families are already seeking food aid as troops go without a paycheck. According to Leavitt, Trump supports the idea of making sure they’re cared for, and “if Democrats believe in this very simple premise too, they should end this shutdown immediately.”

‘This madness must end’

She further claimed that due to funding cuts, nutrition assistance for women, infants and children has been halted, while air traffic controllers are working without pay. “This madness must end,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt’s comments come as the Trump administration is gearing up for mass layoffs of federal employees, as the government shutdown shows no signs of ending.

The U.S. Capitol is seen, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Ever since it became clear that there would be a shutdown, Republicans, including President Trump, have been pinning the blame on Democrats for not voting to keep the government open.

Earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated claims that Trump has the power to fire federal employees, while adding that the decision is a hard one and the administration is not taking any pleasure in that.

Layoffs a Project 2025 blueprint?

Critics have argued that Trump has been using the government shutdown to close down ‘Democrat agencies’ and fire thousands of its staff in line with Project 2025, which is co-authored by Russ Vought, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director.

When asked if Project 2025 was “the blueprint for shrinking the government,” Leavitt said Trump trusts his Cabinet secretaries to identify waste, fraud and abuses.

“The blueprint is what the president, and his team and his Cabinet secretaries ultimately decide. And the president trusts his Cabinet secretaries to identify where there is waste, fraud and abuse,” Leavitt said.