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Tag: Layoffs

  • Missed paychecks, federal layoffs: The government shutdown heading into another weekend

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    The White House has begun laying off federal workers as the government shutdown drags into the weekend, affecting employees at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Military families could miss their first paycheck next Wednesday if the government does not reopen. Although the Senate is set to return on Tuesday, the President has publicly assured service members that they will receive pay regardless of the shutdown, though it remains unclear how this will be achieved.Rep. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, says some people will receive partial paychecks while others won’t receive a check at all. “Real people are being hurt. You got 700,000 federal workers that will receive paychecks today, followed by an additional 400,000 workers on 10/14. That’s their last paycheck. That is the last paycheck they’re going to have until the Democrats reopen the government,” Johnson said.The House Speaker has rejected a standalone bill to pay troops during the shutdown, urging Democrats to support his short-term plan to reopen the government. Democrats have repeatedly voted against this measure, demanding health care extensions.Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader, said, “Extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, address the Republican health care crisis, reopen the government, pay our troops, pay our hardworking federal employees, and enact a spending agreement that actually makes life better for the American people.”The Agriculture Department has stated that the WIC program, which provides food benefits for women, infants, and children, will continue operating “for the foreseeable future” using tariff revenue to remain functional.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

    WASHINGTON —

    The White House has begun laying off federal workers as the government shutdown drags into the weekend, affecting employees at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

    Military families could miss their first paycheck next Wednesday if the government does not reopen. Although the Senate is set to return on Tuesday, the President has publicly assured service members that they will receive pay regardless of the shutdown, though it remains unclear how this will be achieved.

    Rep. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, says some people will receive partial paychecks while others won’t receive a check at all.

    “Real people are being hurt. You got 700,000 federal workers that will receive paychecks today, followed by an additional 400,000 workers on 10/14. That’s their last paycheck. That is the last paycheck they’re going to have until the Democrats reopen the government,” Johnson said.

    The House Speaker has rejected a standalone bill to pay troops during the shutdown, urging Democrats to support his short-term plan to reopen the government. Democrats have repeatedly voted against this measure, demanding health care extensions.

    Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader, said, “Extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, address the Republican health care crisis, reopen the government, pay our troops, pay our hardworking federal employees, and enact a spending agreement that actually makes life better for the American people.”

    The Agriculture Department has stated that the WIC program, which provides food benefits for women, infants, and children, will continue operating “for the foreseeable future” using tariff revenue to remain functional.

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  • Missed paychecks, federal layoffs: The government shutdown heading into another weekend

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    The White House has begun laying off federal workers as the government shutdown drags into the weekend, affecting employees at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Military families could miss their first paycheck next Wednesday if the government does not reopen. Although the Senate is set to return on Tuesday, the President has publicly assured service members that they will receive pay regardless of the shutdown, though it remains unclear how this will be achieved.Rep. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, says some people will receive partial paychecks while others won’t receive a check at all. “Real people are being hurt. You got 700,000 federal workers that will receive paychecks today, followed by an additional 400,000 workers on 10/14. That’s their last paycheck. That is the last paycheck they’re going to have until the Democrats reopen the government,” Johnson said.The House Speaker has rejected a standalone bill to pay troops during the shutdown, urging Democrats to support his short-term plan to reopen the government. Democrats have repeatedly voted against this measure, demanding health care extensions.Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader, said, “Extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, address the Republican health care crisis, reopen the government, pay our troops, pay our hardworking federal employees, and enact a spending agreement that actually makes life better for the American people.”The Agriculture Department has stated that the WIC program, which provides food benefits for women, infants, and children, will continue operating “for the foreseeable future” using tariff revenue to remain functional.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

    WASHINGTON —

    The White House has begun laying off federal workers as the government shutdown drags into the weekend, affecting employees at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

    Military families could miss their first paycheck next Wednesday if the government does not reopen. Although the Senate is set to return on Tuesday, the President has publicly assured service members that they will receive pay regardless of the shutdown, though it remains unclear how this will be achieved.

    Rep. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, says some people will receive partial paychecks while others won’t receive a check at all.

    “Real people are being hurt. You got 700,000 federal workers that will receive paychecks today, followed by an additional 400,000 workers on 10/14. That’s their last paycheck. That is the last paycheck they’re going to have until the Democrats reopen the government,” Johnson said.

    The House Speaker has rejected a standalone bill to pay troops during the shutdown, urging Democrats to support his short-term plan to reopen the government. Democrats have repeatedly voted against this measure, demanding health care extensions.

    Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader, said, “Extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, address the Republican health care crisis, reopen the government, pay our troops, pay our hardworking federal employees, and enact a spending agreement that actually makes life better for the American people.”

    The Agriculture Department has stated that the WIC program, which provides food benefits for women, infants, and children, will continue operating “for the foreseeable future” using tariff revenue to remain functional.

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  • Starbucks Continues Widespread Layoffs – KXL

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    Starbucks baristas stand on stage, March 20, 2019, during an annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

    SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle based coffee giant Starbucks is closing more locations as part of their nationwide reduction.  A conference call took place this morning which announced the permanent layoff of 369 workers in Washington beginning on December 5th.

    The company announced in September that they planned to close around 1% of their locations.

    More about:


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    Brett Reckamp

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  • What furloughed federal workers should know about managing their finances during shutdown – WTOP News

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    Federal workers checking their finances to see how they’ll fare if the government shutdown drags on may find themselves fighting gut-wrenching anxiety.

    Federal workers checking their finances to see how they’ll fare if the government shutdown drags on may find themselves fighting gut-wrenching anxiety.

    And Kathleen Borgueta, a former federal employee, knows exactly how that feels.

    She lost her job at the U.S. Agency for International Development in January, and had to scramble to deal with a host of new expenses as the mother of a newborn son.

    “I would make sure you have all of your HR forms saved,” Borgueta said, adding that federal workers that are currently being furloughed should make sure the documents are easily accessible.

    Borgueta founded Pivoting Parents, which works to help former federal workers make the transition to new careers.

    She also said federal workers should be familiar with their own benefits, especially if they find themselves out of a job.

    “I know countless people who didn’t get the amounts they thought they were going to get for vacation payouts and things like that,” Borgueta said.

    Don’t hesitate to contact your landlord or mortgage company to let them know you are experiencing interruption in pay, she said.

    Reach out to utility companies — many in the D.C. area have posted notifications that indicate customers impacted by the shutdown can get help with payment options.

    “Verizon, my internet, was willing to work with me when I told them that I was a displaced worker,” Borgueta said.

    As a new mom, Borgueta was facing medical bills, and advised those in a similar situation to inquire about payment options and whether you can get those bills reduced.

    “It is well worth negotiating — talking to a real person and asking about payment plans,” she said.

    Aside from fiscal fitness, Borgueta advised furloughed federal workers to tend to their mental health.

    “I’ve been through government shutdowns. Sometimes they’re short, sometimes they’re long,” she said. “Make sure that you have the supports that you need to take care of yourself and to take care of your family.”

    Resist the urge to withdraw and shoulder your burdens on your own, she said.

    “I would really recommend leaning on in-person networks — people you do know who are also going through these experiences — and not just doomscrolling,” she said. “Ask for help.”

    Borgueta said she leaned heavily on in-person communities, and said the D.C. region has a wide range of resources, from career coaching to accessing certification for in-demand skills.

    Filing for unemployment benefits: Nuts and bolts

    Michele Evermore, senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, told WTOP her advice for former federal workers when applying for unemployment insurance.

    “Be prepared to provide the last 18 months in pay stubs plus your SF8 form and your SF50 form,” she said.

    But she said furloughed workers shouldn’t panic if they can’t access those forms.

    “You can file an affidavit confirming what your wages were, but it’s just a little more time consuming than a regular unemployment insurance claim,” Evermore said.

    Evermore said unemployment benefits will not cover a furloughed workers’ living expenses. Weekly benefits range from $440 a week in D.C. to $378 a week in Virginia. In Maryland, weekly payments are as high as $430.

    “That’s not a lot of income, but it’s better than zero,” Evermore said.

    After filing for unemployment, Evermore said, expect to wait.

    “It will take a while because, in general, timeliness means you get paid within two to three weeks,” she said.

    One thing that anyone receiving unemployment benefits should realize is that those benefits will be taxed.

    “States will give you the option of withholding now or paying later. I would really encourage people to just withhold now and make sure you’re not stuck with an unexpected tax bill next year,” she said.

    One last bit of advice, said Evermore: keep your unemployment benefits password.

    “In some states, if you don’t keep your password for the unemployment insurance system and you get logged out, you’ll have to actually call and get mailed a password. So make sure you keep that someplace safe,” she said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kate Ryan

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  • ‘I would’ve went home with an espresso machine’: Starbucks barista says they were asked to clean out entire store. They were all laid off an hour later

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    A recently fired Starbucks employee posted a video detailing her last day. The only problem? She didn’t know when she went to her local store that she wouldn’t have a job within hours of arriving.

    In a video with over 2.4 million views, @astoldby_honey expressed her frustration at her recent predicament. She arrived at her store in New York City only to get told to clean it out at 3 p.m., with a layoff email in her inbox by 4:06 p.m. that day. In her video, she peruses the store while showing off various pieces of equipment they packed up in a rush to close.

    A group of baristas was there, organizing equipment for their “final” day before receiving an email that cut them off entirely.

    “They made y’all clean the store and then FIRED YOU?!” One commenter incredulously wrote, expressing gall at the fact that Starbucks really did fire hundreds of people in a short amount of time.

    What’s going on with Starbucks?

    It isn’t surprising that @astoldby_honey’s store closed, especially considering the financial woes Starbucks has faced recently. The company announced a $1 billion restructuring plan on Thursday, Sept. 25, that would lay off 900 non-retail employees and shut down stores across the country. The company plans to grow again in 2026 after some restructuring.

    Any stores that couldn’t meet the restructuring plans outlined by executives and were “unable to create the physical environment [Starbucks]’ customers and partners expect” are set to close.

    Starbucks CEO backlash

    Many people think Starbucks changed too much too soon. A year ago, the company announced Brian Niccol as its new CEO. He introduced a variety of changes to the chain coffee shop, such as coffee cup personalization and some “cozy” touches. These iterations were meant to draw a more loyal customer base toward each establishment, but they came at a price. Many baristas complained about the difficulty of keeping up with the new workflow, and customers didn’t necessarily ask for them.

    A CNBC article published earlier in September noted this, interviewing one barista who said, “If we’re in a rush, and we only have two people working, we are still expected to write on every single cup… and if my manager notices a single cup that doesn’t have writing on it, that will immediately become a ‘coaching moment.’”

    Niccol said in a statement regarding the restructuring plan: “These steps are to reinforce what we see is working and prioritize our resources against them… I believe these steps are necessary to build a better, stronger, and more resilient Starbucks that deepens its impact on the world and creates more opportunities for our partners, suppliers, and the communities we serve.”

    It’s difficult to transform an already established mega-brand into a cozy, more independent-feeling coffee house similar to its early days. The company had been struggling even before it faced sweeping iterations, but only recently had such sweeping developments occurred.

    @astoldby_honey #fired #starbucks #nyc ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN ??

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Starbucks’ press team via email for more information. We’ve also contacted @astoldby_honey via TikTok direct message.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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    Rachel Thomas

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  • Pastors in Prince George’s County say they’re ready to help furloughed federal workers – WTOP News

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    Leaders of churches and nonprofits in Prince George’s County, Maryland, said they were ready to offer a wide range of support for furloughed or laid off federal workers on Wednesday.

    We want to know your thoughts on the government shutdown. How are you and your family affected? Share your story — Send us a message or a voice note through the WTOP News app on Apple or Android. Click the “Feedback” button in the app’s navigation bar.

    When Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy started talking about the Maryland county’s response to the government shutdown, she said the first people her administration called were local utilities to make sure water and electricity would keep running.

    Pastor Gerald Folsom of Greater Mount Nebo AME church in Bowie, Maryland, spoke about assistance for federal workers. (WTOP/John Domen)

    Judging by the number who showed up, the second round of calls she made was to faith leaders.

    Leaders of several churches and nonprofits were on hand in Largo on Wednesday, and all of them said they were ready to offer a wide range of support for furloughed or laid off federal workers who might need help in the days and weeks to come — regardless of how faithful they may or may not be.

    “We’re bracing for what is going to be a tsunami in our community,” said Bishop Joel Peebles of City of Praise Family Ministries in Landover.

    As the White House threatens to terminate more employees, Peebles said, “It’s going to fall at the feet of the churches, our community leaders, to be inventive to try to find ways to help our community.”

    Next week, his church is planning a big event that focuses on entrepreneurship. It’ll include help with job hunting and reskilling, but also mortgage counseling and education about artificial intelligence and Bitcoin.

    “We’re going to give you an opportunity to expand your life,” Peebles said. “But most of all, we’re going to give you an opportunity to build it so that if the government shuts down, if the community shuts down, your house doesn’t shut down.”

    A lot of the services are already offered year-round anyway, but the county wanted to highlight them to federal workers who might not have needed to utilize them before, or even knew they were available.

    Among those who spoke was Jacob’s Ladder Youth Foundation Executive Director Jarriel Jordan, who said his group provided nearly 400,000 meals to more than 43,000 households in the county last year. Jordan said they team up with other nonprofits, restaurants and food providers already, and that his group was available now if help is needed.

    “I was a federal employee and retired now, and so I’ve been through these shutdowns,” said Pastor Gerald Folsom of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in Bowie.

    His church already helps provide food and housing assistance in parts of the county. Folsom said they’re looking at expanding those offerings in more parts of Prince George’s County, and that churches around the region can expect to see more people in the pews, and more people looking for help in the weeks ahead.

    “The first place people will come before they come to the government is their household of faith,” Folsom said.

    “We have a food pantry that’s open five days a week from 9 to 4,” said Adenia Bradley, CEO of Mission of Love Charities in Capitol Heights.

    The group also offers physical and mental health clinics three days a week, as well as food and rental assistance.

    Folsom noted that willingness to help, and to listen, isn’t just limited to those who already attend those churches. And it’s not limited to those who practice their faith regularly either.

    “If you’re there, come on, come out. We have our arms open,” he said. “You don’t even have to believe, but you do need food. You do need to get your children clothed. You do need to keep your family together.”

    He also said this was the time for the faith community around the D.C. region to come together.

    “We’re calling for the mosques, the temples, the synagogues, all of us come together,” Folsom said. “Because this is not about what faith we are. This is about the entire faith community coming together to do something good.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    John Domen

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  • How 1 LinkedIn Post Shows the Ruthless Reach of the Starbucks Layoffs

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    What’s colder than a mocha frappuccino? Losing your job while on maternity leave.

    That’s the reality former Starbucks recruiter Leslee Hemenway faces after being laid off by the coffee chain, according to her LinkedIn post on Monday. Hemenway worked at Starbucks for seven years and was one of their retail management interns during college, her LinkedIn profile reads. She was one of the 900 non-retail employees laid off from Starbucks last week.

    “Being laid off while on maternity leave feels like a sick joke, but it’s the reality I’m presently facing,” Hemenway’s post said.

    Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the layoffs were a “difficult decision” to tighten the company’s costs, he announced online. Employees were instructed to work from home on the day laid-off employees were notified. Affected employees will receive “generous severance and support packages including benefits extensions,” according to Niccol. Starbucks did not return a request for comment by the time of publication to offer a more detailed explanation.

    “I know these decisions impact our partners and their families, and we did not make them lightly,” Niccol said in a company announcement. “I believe these steps are necessary to build a better, stronger, and more resilient Starbucks that deepens its impact on the world and creates more opportunities for our partners, suppliers, and the communities we serve.”

    In addition to corporate layoffs, Starbucks is also closing hundreds of its U.S. stores, including its flagship Reserve Roastery near its Seattle headquarters. The company said it was closing locations where they don’t see “a path to financial performance,” and they’re unable “to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect.” Baristas working at the closing stores are being transferred to other locations, when possible, Niccol said. In cases where transfers are not possible, these workers will be given a severance and are encouraged to “come back” when new stores and roles open.

    As for Hemenway, she’s going to use the severance package she received to take time to bond with her newborn.

    “After the birth of my daughter this summer, I’m going to savor the time I have with her and not actively pursue a new role for now,” Hemenway said on LinkedIn. “However, if you know of something that might be a particularly good fit in recruiting or talent management, please feel free to send it my way.”

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    Kayla Webster

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  • Quarter of bosses admit return-to-office mandates were meant to make staff quit | Fortune

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    Bosses have spent the better part of two years summoning their employees back to the office, making remote-loving workers “quiet quit” in protest, while others have threatened to quit for real. But that’s secretly what a significant chunk of CEOs were hoping for.

    According to research from BambooHR, a survey of more than 1,500 U.S. managers found a quarter of C-suite executives hoped for some voluntary turnover among workers after implementing an RTO policy. 

    Meanwhile, one in five HR professionals admitted their in-office policy was meant to make staff quit.

    It’s why the report concludes what many workers have long suspected: that “RTO mandates are layoffs in disguise”.

    Return-to-office mandates haven’t gone as hoped

    It’s no secret that rigid in-office policies haven’t landed well with workers. Amazon is perhaps the most documented example of how ugly the RTO battle can get.

    Around 30,000 employees signed a petition protesting the company’s in-office mandate, and more than 1,800 pledged to walk out from their jobs to take a stand. When the tech giant eventually demanded workers show face in the office five days a week, numerous staffers told Fortune they were immediately updating their LinkedIn profiles and “rage applying” for new jobs. “Honestly, I’ve lost so much trust in Amazon leadership at this point,” one person said.

    Research has shown 99% of companies with RTO mandates have seen a drop in engagement.

    Meanwhile, separate data shows that nearly half of companies with return-to-office mandates witnessed a higher level of employee attrition than they had anticipated, and 29% of companies enforcing office returns are struggling with recruitment. 

    Even BambooHR’s research has highlighted that nearly a third of workers would consider leaving their positions if forced to return to their company’s vertical towers.

    But in reality, many workers aren’t following through with such threats—and fewer are quitting than bosses had hoped.

    Nearly 40% of all managers in the survey said they believe their organization did layoffs because not enough workers quit in response to their company’s RTO mandate.

    A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on July 24, 2024.

    More on RTO mandates:

    • ‘Hushed hybrid’: Even as RTO mandates grow, workers still aren’t fully showing up to the office—a sign managers are too burnt out to enforce policies
    • Robinhood CEO admits his RTO call was wrong and now says execs must be in the office 5 days a week: ‘Your manager is going through more pain than you’
    • More than 60% of workers have considered changing jobs due to rigid RTO policies and would take a pay cut for better flexible work options
    Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.

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    Orianna Rosa Royle

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  • How a government shutdown would give Trump more power

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    A fight between Republicans and Democrats could lead to an Oct. 1 federal government shutdown. 

    Democrats are trying to leverage the must-pass bill to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies; the Trump administration is tying a shutdown to potential mass federal worker layoffs.

    The current battle focuses on expiring subsidies for the Affordable Care Act that Democrats say will hurt the ability of millions of enrollees to afford insurance. Democrats have also said they want to reverse Medicaid cuts that Trump signed into law this summer.

    Republicans are seeking a bill to temporarily extend federal spending at current levels without any add-ons.

    If the government shuts down, President Donald Trump and his administration — which has already defied norms on executive power — likely will seek to exert more power. 

    Sign up for PolitiFact texts

    Trump’s Office of Management and Budget under Russell Vought has moved with more executive authority over spending, which is typically left to Congress. The administration took steps to cancel foreign aid and asserted power to withhold billions of domestic spending.  

    “I would expect this shutdown to look different than any other shutdown,” said Joshua Sewell, Taxpayers for Common Sense director of research and policy. He said he expects that the Trump team’s actions would be guided by what they believe achieves the most for them politically.

    Trump could use a shutdown to dismantle government functions, wrote Max Stier, chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit focused on improving the federal government.

    If lawmakers can’t reach a deal, Stier wrote, Trump and Vought “will have enormous latitude to determine which services, programs, and employees can be sidelined, decisions that could go far beyond what has occurred during past shutdowns.”

    Beyond the Antideficiency Act, which says the government cannot spend money or incur debts without Congress’ authority, the shutdown process has historically been guided by traditions, not laws.

    In recent past shutdowns, hundreds of thousands of employees were furloughed, but the shutdowns did not result in mass permanent layoffs or significant reorganizations. Under federal law, federal workers also receive back pay for their time on furlough.

    Trump and his congressional allies would be in charge of the government amid a shutdown. What can Trump do on his own?

    OMB told agencies to “consider” layoff notices

    A sign posted Oct. 1, 2013, on a barricade in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.,  tells visitors it’s closed because of a government shutdown. (AP)

    The Trump administration has already reduced the workforce by about 200,000, a number that could grow to 300,000 by the end of the year, Stier wrote. The administration gutted some agencies and programs including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Voice of America.

    OMB provided an email, first published by Politico, that it sent to agency heads that said agencies should consider sending “reduction in force” notices to employees whose programs are “not consistent with the President’s priorities” or lack mandatory funding or another source of funding, such as the tax and spending legislation H.R. 1, which became law in July.

    Rachel Greszler, a workforce expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the administration hasn’t mandated layoffs, but directed agencies to “consider” issuing such notices “as a way to let federal employees know which of their jobs could be on the line if Congress reduces their agency’s funding.” 

    This signals to Democrats that health care funding demands could backfire, she said, potentially causing further reductions in the size of the federal government.

    Several questions remain, including how many employees could face layoffs and when. The memo says once fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted, agencies should revise their plans to reduce staff.

    “I believe this memo indicates OMB will pursue a dual path of shutdown-related furloughs and a separate process of mass layoffs,” Sewell said. Whether the layoffs happen before or after funding is restored “is an open question,” Sewell said. “This certainly indicates the administration wants to cut these agencies and programs at any opportunity either now or in the future.”

    Experts offered mixed opinions about whether layoffs would hold up in court. Any such process must follow the rules, such as a 60-day written notice. 

    “A shutdown provides no new legal authority to engage in widespread firings,” said Sam Berger, who works for the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and who worked at OMB during the Biden and Obama administrations. 

    Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate minority leader from New York, said the memo is an “attempt at intimidation” and predicted such firings would be reversed. 

    Social Security checks and other mandatory spending will continue

    Mandatory spending — ongoing spending that does not require periodic extensions from Congress — generally continues during a shutdown. This means Americans would still receive Social Security checks and be able to use Medicare and Medicaid.

    In previous shutdowns, border protection, medical care in hospitals, air traffic control, law enforcement and power grid maintenance were deemed essential and remained active during the shutdown.

    Even continued services can be disrupted. During the 2018-19 shutdown, holiday travelers faced delays as many unpaid TSA staff and air traffic controllers didn’t come to work.

    Administrations have a lot of leeway to define “essential” workers. During the 2013 shutdown, the Obama administration closed national parks. In 2018, the Trump administration kept many national parks open with limited services using previously paid park entrance fees to cover personnel costs; the Government Accountability Office concluded that this violated federal law.

    The second-term Trump administration is expected to continue priorities such as immigration enforcement and might try to focus cuts on areas that have already been slashed. Trump campaigned on a promise to abolish the Education Department, and his administration has shrunk the Environmental Protection Agency. 

    There have been four shutdowns in recent decades that lasted more than one business day, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. 

    RELATED: Yes, ACA subsidies cut and premium rise could mean your health insurance bill goes up 75%

    RELATED: Fact-check: Past government shutdowns cost the U.S. economy billions

    RELATED: MAGA-Meter: Trump’s second term

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  • Starbucks announces significant store closures and layoffs

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    Starbucks is taking “significant action” to turn around its struggling business, closing a large number of cafés and announcing a second round of layoffs at its headquarters as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s efforts to resuscitate the troubled chain.Niccol announced Thursday that Starbucks will close hundreds of stores this month, or about 1% of its locations. The company had 18,734 North American locations at the end of June, and the company said it will end September with 18,300 stores.The company expects its restructuring efforts will cost $1 billion. Shares of Starbucks were flat in premarket trading.In a letter to employees, Niccol said the company underwent a review of its footprint and the locations that will close were ones “unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance.”Starbucks often closes locations for a variety of reasons, including underperformance. But Niccol said this larger-scale effort is more substantial.”This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult,” he said.Despite the hundreds of closures, which will take place before the end of the company’s fiscal year next week, Starbucks said it will return to growth mode, and it also plans to remodel more than 1,000 locations. The new look for Starbucks features cozier chairs, more power outlets and warmer colors.In addition to the store closures, Starbucks announced an additional 900 corporate layoffs, on top of the roughly 1,000 layoffs in February. Affected employees will be notified on Friday and will receive “generous severance and support packages.” Also, “many” open positions will be closed, he announced.”I know these decisions impact our partners and their families, and we did not make them lightly,” Niccol wrote. “I believe these steps are necessary to build a better, stronger and more resilient Starbucks that deepens its impact on the world and creates more opportunities for our partners, suppliers and the communities we serve.”One year onNiccol joined Starbucks about a year ago, hoping to revive the storied coffee chain. However, the financial results haven’t come to fruition, with the stock down about 12% and sales haven’t turned around.He’s pared back the menu by about 30%, while also introducing new items to keep the brand on trend, like protein toppings and coconut water. Food is also getting a revamp, with new croissants and baked goods being rolled out.In addition to remodels, smaller touches have been integrated, like bringing back self-serve milk and sugar stations as well as doodles on coffee cups. The company also tweaked its name to “Starbucks Coffee Company” to reinforce its coffee roots.However, his changes have butted heads with some baristas, including uniform changes that sparked a lawsuit. And some new drinks are causing stress for baristas because they are overcomplicated to make during peak times.

    Starbucks is taking “significant action” to turn around its struggling business, closing a large number of cafés and announcing a second round of layoffs at its headquarters as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s efforts to resuscitate the troubled chain.

    Niccol announced Thursday that Starbucks will close hundreds of stores this month, or about 1% of its locations. The company had 18,734 North American locations at the end of June, and the company said it will end September with 18,300 stores.

    The company expects its restructuring efforts will cost $1 billion. Shares of Starbucks were flat in premarket trading.

    In a letter to employees, Niccol said the company underwent a review of its footprint and the locations that will close were ones “unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance.”

    Starbucks often closes locations for a variety of reasons, including underperformance. But Niccol said this larger-scale effort is more substantial.

    “This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult,” he said.

    Despite the hundreds of closures, which will take place before the end of the company’s fiscal year next week, Starbucks said it will return to growth mode, and it also plans to remodel more than 1,000 locations. The new look for Starbucks features cozier chairs, more power outlets and warmer colors.

    In addition to the store closures, Starbucks announced an additional 900 corporate layoffs, on top of the roughly 1,000 layoffs in February. Affected employees will be notified on Friday and will receive “generous severance and support packages.” Also, “many” open positions will be closed, he announced.

    “I know these decisions impact our partners and their families, and we did not make them lightly,” Niccol wrote. “I believe these steps are necessary to build a better, stronger and more resilient Starbucks that deepens its impact on the world and creates more opportunities for our partners, suppliers and the communities we serve.”

    One year on

    Niccol joined Starbucks about a year ago, hoping to revive the storied coffee chain. However, the financial results haven’t come to fruition, with the stock down about 12% and sales haven’t turned around.

    He’s pared back the menu by about 30%, while also introducing new items to keep the brand on trend, like protein toppings and coconut water. Food is also getting a revamp, with new croissants and baked goods being rolled out.

    In addition to remodels, smaller touches have been integrated, like bringing back self-serve milk and sugar stations as well as doodles on coffee cups. The company also tweaked its name to “Starbucks Coffee Company” to reinforce its coffee roots.

    However, his changes have butted heads with some baristas, including uniform changes that sparked a lawsuit. And some new drinks are causing stress for baristas because they are overcomplicated to make during peak times.

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  • Some People Are Definitely Losing Their Jobs Because of AI (the Ones Building it)

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    AI might be coming for our jobs, but capitalist pressures appear to be coming for the people responsible for developing AI. Wired reported over 200 people working on Google’s AI products, including its chatbot Gemini and the AI Overviews it displays in search results, were recently laid off—joining the ranks of unfortunate former employees of xAI and Meta, who have also been victims of “restructuring” as companies that poured billions of dollars into AI development are trying to figure out how to make that money back.

    Per Wired, most of the people working on Google’s AI products were contractors rather than Google employees. Many worked at GlobalLogic, a software development company owned by Hitachi. According to the report, most of the GlobalLogic workers who got cut off from Google were working as raters, working to ensure the quality of AI responses. Most are based in the US, work with English-language content, and many have a master’s or a PhD in their field of expertise.

    At least some workers hit by this layoff were told the cuts were the result of a “ramp-down” on the project, but at least a few workers seem skeptical of that reason. Some believe the cuts may be related to worker protests over pay and job security concerns, per Wired. The publication also reported that documents from GlobalLogic indicate the company may be using human raters to train a system that can automate the rating process, which would leave AI to moderate AI.

    The folks tasked with tightening up Google’s AI outputs are far from the only ones in the industry getting squeezed. According to Business Insider, Elon Musk’s xAI recently laid off at least 500 workers who were tasked with doing data annotation. The layoffs appear to be a part of a shuffling of efforts within the company, which is moving away from “generalist” data annotators and ramping up its “specialists.” Given that Google just cut contractors who would likely fall under that “specialist” label, it probably feels a bit precarious out there.

    It’s been a tough go for people who are actually handling the data that feeds AI tools. Shortly after Meta invested in data labeling firm Scale AI, the company cut 14% of its staff, including 200 full-timers and about 500 contractors. Meta itself is reportedly looking seriously at downsizing its AI department as it keeps shifting priorities and trying to figure out how to get a leg up in the AI race.

    It’s also hard not to look at the layoffs of lower-level workers and contractors without thinking about the multi-million dollar job offers being thrown at AI specialists to secure their talents, but this tends to be how things go: the people doing the grunt work that must be done to keep the gears turning are considered replaceable while more and more money flows to the top to people who no one really knows what they do, but they make a lot of money so it must be important.

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    AJ Dellinger

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  • Elon Musk’s xAI Is Redefining Data Annotation—an Unglamorous But Vital Job in A.I.

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    Elon Musk’s A.I. firm is scaling back on “generalist A.I. tutors.” Allison Robbert/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    Data annotation may not be the most glamorous job in Silicon Valley, but it’s indispensable for A.I. developers and has made companies like Scale AI multibillion-dollar ventures overnight. Training large language models requires armies of humans to label text, images and video so A.I. systems can learn from them. Now, Elon Musk’s xAI is reshaping how that work is done by shifting away from general contractors and toward experts in specialized fields it calls “A.I. tutors.”

    In that vein, xAI recently laid off at least 500 generalist annotators, as reported by Business Insider. The cuts affected about one-third of the company’s 1,500-person annotation team. In emails cited by the outlet, executives described a “strategic pivot” toward hiring domain experts as specialist A.I. tutors.

    “Specialist A.I. tutors at xAI are adding huge value,” said xAI in a Sep. 12 post on X that declared the company will “immediately surge” its specialist A.I. team by tenfold. The company did not respond to requests for comment from Observer.

    What data annotation is and why it matters

    Human annotators play a crucial role in fine-tuning raw data, ensuring it can be used effectively to train models. But the work has long been fraught. Firms that outsource this work, like Scale AI, have faced lawsuits from contractors alleging wage theft, misclassification and exposure to disturbing content without safeguards.

    Unlike rivals that rely heavily on third parties, xAI employs a large in-house annotation team. Other A.I. leaders—including OpenAI and Google—have worked with Scale in the past, though both distanced themselves from the firm after Meta took a 49 percent stake and hired its CEO, Alexandr Wang, to lead its new superintelligence division. Today, many also contract with competitor Surge AI, which counts Anthropic and Microsoft among its clients.

    xAI itself has previously tapped third-party annotators, but is now doubling down on its own staff. The company has posted openings for more than a dozen specialist tutor roles spanning A.I. safety, data science, STEM, finance, Japanese and even “memes and headline commentary.” The latter position involves improving Grok’s ability to “recognize and analyze memes, trolling and virality mechanisms,” according to the listing.

    Qualifications for these roles are steep. For STEM specialists, candidates must hold a master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant field—or have earned medals in competitions like the International Mathematical Olympiad. xAI says tutors can work part-time or full-time and earn between $45 and $100 per hour.

    The changes come as xAI faces wider turnover beyond its annotation team. In July, the company’s head of infrastructure, Uday Ruddarraju, left for rival OpenAI. Co-founder Igor Babushkin departed the following month to launch a venture capital firm. And in September, Mike Liberatore resigned after just three months as chief financial officer.

    Elon Musk’s xAI Is Redefining Data Annotation—an Unglamorous But Vital Job in A.I.

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    Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly

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  • Opendoor Board Chair Thinks the Company Should Cut Its Workforce by 85 Percent

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    If you work for Opendoor, the online real estate platform, you might consider polishing up your resume. The chair of the company’s board recently let it slip that he thinks the firm could stand to lose almost all of its employees.

    During a recent appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” Keith Rabois, a former member of the PayPal Mafia, told a reporter that he felt that the majority of the people at his company were expendable. “There’s 1,400 employees at Opendoor. I don’t know what most of them do. We don’t need more than 200 of them,” Rabois remarked. He added that “the advent of AI and other technologies” made the workforce reduction a “simple problem” to solve.

    Rabois’ apparent disinterest in maintaining a majority of Opendoor’s workforce is somewhat humorous given how well the company’s been doing lately. Indeed, the company’s stock is up 500 percent this year. That said, the stock performance appears to largely be the result of a wave of retail investors becoming interested in the firm due to online advice spread by a hedge fund manager. As a result, the company has been dubbed a “meme stock,” which Rabois disputes.

    It’s unclear whether Rabois’s ruthless comment was just an effort to inspire confidence in the profitability of the company. After all, if you fire almost everybody at a firm, there’s a much bigger chance you’ll turn a profit.

    The stock soared this week, but other developments also helped buoy investor confidence—namely, the appointment of former Shopify executive Kaz Nejatian as its new CEO. CNBC notes that “investor” pressure had spurred the exit of former Opendoor CEO Carrie Wheeler. On Thursday, the company’s stock rose a whopping 78 percent, before dipping down 13 percent on Friday, the outlet notes.

    Rabois had more to say about his efforts to transform the online real estate platform: “The culture was broken,” he said, of the firm’s previous management. “These people were working remotely. That doesn’t work. This company was founded on the principle of innovation and working together in person. We’re going to return to our roots.”

    Rabois also took the opportunity to dunk on the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, noting that, under its previous leadership, the firm had gone “down this DEI path,” and that Rabois intended to “fix all that.” Gizmodo reached out to Opendoor for more information about its apparent plan to upend its workforce.

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    Lucas Ropek

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  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces congressional grilling amid CDC turmoil

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    U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., facing pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday, tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies.Kennedy said the fired CDC director was untrustworthy, stood by his past anti-vaccine rhetoric, and disputed reports of people saying they have had difficulty getting COVID-19 shots.A longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy has made sweeping changes to agencies tasked with public health policy and scientific research by laying off thousands of workers, firing science advisers and remaking vaccine guidelines. The moves — some of which contradict assurances he made during his confirmation hearings — have rattled medical groups and officials in several Democratic-led states, which have responded with their own vaccine advice.Medical groups and several Democrats in Congress have called for Kennedy to be fired, and his exchanges with Democratic senators on the panel repeatedly devolved into shouting, from both sides.But some Republican senators also expressed unease with his changes to COVID-19 policies.The GOP senators noted that Kennedy said President Donald Trump deserved a Nobel Prize for the 2020 Operation Warp Speed initiative to quickly develop mRNA COVID-19 vaccines — and that he also had attacked the safety and continued use of those very shots.”I can’t tell where you are on Operation Warp Speed,” said Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis.Tillis and others asked him why the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was fired last week, less than a month into her tenure.Kennedy said she was dishonest, and that CDC leaders who left the agency last week in support of her deserved to be fired.He also criticized CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic tied to lockdowns and masking policies, and claimed — wrongly — that they “failed to do anything about the disease itself.””The people at CDC who oversaw that process, who put masks on our children, who closed our schools, are the people who will be leaving,” Kennedy said. He later said they deserved to be fired for not doing enough to control chronic disease.Democrats express hostility from the startThe Senate Finance Committee had called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again,” but Democratic senators pressed Kennedy on his actions around vaccines.At the start of the hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon tried to have Kennedy formally sworn in as a witness, saying the HHS secretary has a history of lying to the committee. The committee’s chair, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, denied the Democrat’s request, saying “the bottom line is we will let the secretary make his own case.”Wyden went on to attack Kennedy, saying he had “stacked the deck” of a vaccines advisory committee by replacing scientists with “skeptics and conspiracy theorists.”Last week, the Trump administration fired the CDC’s director — a Trump appointee who was confirmed by the Senate — less than a month into her tenure. Several top CDC leaders resigned in protest, leaving the agency in turmoil.The ousted director, Susan Monarez, wrote in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that Kennedy was trying to weaken public health protections.”I was told to preapprove the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel newly filled with people who have publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric,” Monarez wrote. “It is imperative that the panel’s recommendations aren’t rubber-stamped but instead are rigorously and scientifically reviewed before being accepted or rejected.”Kennedy told senators he didn’t make such an ultimatum, though he did concede that he had ordered Monarez to fire career CDC scientists. Monarez’s attorneys later responded that she stood by the op-ed and “would repeat it all under oath.”Kennedy pushed back on concerns raised by multiple Republican senators, including Tillis and Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Both Barrasso and Cassidy are physicians.Shouting matches and hot comebacksThe health secretary had animated comebacks as Democratic senators pressed him on the effects of his words and actions.When Sen. Raphael Warnock, of Georgia, questioned Kennedy about his disparaging rhetoric about CDC employees before a deadly shooting at the agency this summer, Kennedy shot back: “Are you complicit in the assassination attempts on President Trump?”Kennedy called Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico “ridiculous,” said he was “talking gibberish” and accused him of “not understanding how the world works” when Lujan asked Kennedy to pledge to share protocols of any research Kennedy was commissioning into autism and vaccines.He also engaged in a heated, loud exchanges with Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tina Smith of Minnesota.”I didn’t even hear your question,” Kennedy replied to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto as the Nevada Democrat repeatedly asked what the agency was doing to lower drug costs for seniors.He also told Sen. Bernie Sanders that the Vermont independent was not “making any sense.”Some senators had their own choice words.”You’re interrupting me, and sir, you’re a charlatan. That’s what you are, ” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat. “The history on vaccines is very clear.”As the hearing neared its end, Kennedy pulled his cellphone from his pocket and then tapped and scrolled as Wyden asked about mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortion.Kennedy disputes COVID-19 dataIn May, Kennedy announced COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a move opposed by medical and public health groups.In June, he abruptly fired a panel of experts that had been advising the government on vaccine policy. He replaced them with a handpicked group that included several vaccine skeptics, and then shut the door to several doctors groups that had long helped form the committee’s recommendations.Kennedy has voiced distrust of research that showed the COVID-19 vaccines saved lives, and at Thursday’s hearing even cast doubt on statistics about how people died during the pandemic and on estimates about how many deaths were averted — statistics produced by the agencies he oversees.He said federal health policy would be based on gold standard science, but confessed that he wouldn’t necessarily wait for studies to be completed before taking action against, for example, potential causes of chronic illness.”We are not waiting for everything to come in. We are starting now,” he said.A number of medical groups say Kennedy can’t be counted on to make decisions based on robust medical evidence. In a statement Wednesday, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and 20 other medical and public health organizations issued a joint statement calling on him to resign.”Our country needs leadership that will promote open, honest dialogue, not disregard decades of lifesaving science, spread misinformation, reverse medical progress and decimate programs that keep us safe,” the statement said.Many of the nation’s leading public health and medical societies, including the American Medical Association, American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have decried Kennedy’s policies and warn they will drive up rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.___Stobbe reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

    WASHINGTON —

    U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., facing pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday, tried to defend his efforts to pull back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies.

    Kennedy said the fired CDC director was untrustworthy, stood by his past anti-vaccine rhetoric, and disputed reports of people saying they have had difficulty getting COVID-19 shots.

    A longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy has made sweeping changes to agencies tasked with public health policy and scientific research by laying off thousands of workers, firing science advisers and remaking vaccine guidelines. The moves — some of which contradict assurances he made during his confirmation hearings — have rattled medical groups and officials in several Democratic-led states, which have responded with their own vaccine advice.

    Medical groups and several Democrats in Congress have called for Kennedy to be fired, and his exchanges with Democratic senators on the panel repeatedly devolved into shouting, from both sides.

    But some Republican senators also expressed unease with his changes to COVID-19 policies.

    The GOP senators noted that Kennedy said President Donald Trump deserved a Nobel Prize for the 2020 Operation Warp Speed initiative to quickly develop mRNA COVID-19 vaccines — and that he also had attacked the safety and continued use of those very shots.

    “I can’t tell where you are on Operation Warp Speed,” said Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis.

    Tillis and others asked him why the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was fired last week, less than a month into her tenure.

    Kennedy said she was dishonest, and that CDC leaders who left the agency last week in support of her deserved to be fired.

    He also criticized CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic tied to lockdowns and masking policies, and claimed — wrongly — that they “failed to do anything about the disease itself.”

    “The people at CDC who oversaw that process, who put masks on our children, who closed our schools, are the people who will be leaving,” Kennedy said. He later said they deserved to be fired for not doing enough to control chronic disease.

    Democrats express hostility from the start

    The Senate Finance Committee had called Kennedy to a hearing about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again,” but Democratic senators pressed Kennedy on his actions around vaccines.

    At the start of the hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon tried to have Kennedy formally sworn in as a witness, saying the HHS secretary has a history of lying to the committee. The committee’s chair, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, denied the Democrat’s request, saying “the bottom line is we will let the secretary make his own case.”

    Wyden went on to attack Kennedy, saying he had “stacked the deck” of a vaccines advisory committee by replacing scientists with “skeptics and conspiracy theorists.”

    Last week, the Trump administration fired the CDC’s director — a Trump appointee who was confirmed by the Senate — less than a month into her tenure. Several top CDC leaders resigned in protest, leaving the agency in turmoil.

    The ousted director, Susan Monarez, wrote in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that Kennedy was trying to weaken public health protections.

    “I was told to preapprove the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel newly filled with people who have publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric,” Monarez wrote. “It is imperative that the panel’s recommendations aren’t rubber-stamped but instead are rigorously and scientifically reviewed before being accepted or rejected.”

    Kennedy told senators he didn’t make such an ultimatum, though he did concede that he had ordered Monarez to fire career CDC scientists. Monarez’s attorneys later responded that she stood by the op-ed and “would repeat it all under oath.”

    Kennedy pushed back on concerns raised by multiple Republican senators, including Tillis and Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Both Barrasso and Cassidy are physicians.

    Shouting matches and hot comebacks

    The health secretary had animated comebacks as Democratic senators pressed him on the effects of his words and actions.

    When Sen. Raphael Warnock, of Georgia, questioned Kennedy about his disparaging rhetoric about CDC employees before a deadly shooting at the agency this summer, Kennedy shot back: “Are you complicit in the assassination attempts on President Trump?”

    Kennedy called Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico “ridiculous,” said he was “talking gibberish” and accused him of “not understanding how the world works” when Lujan asked Kennedy to pledge to share protocols of any research Kennedy was commissioning into autism and vaccines.

    He also engaged in a heated, loud exchanges with Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tina Smith of Minnesota.

    “I didn’t even hear your question,” Kennedy replied to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto as the Nevada Democrat repeatedly asked what the agency was doing to lower drug costs for seniors.

    He also told Sen. Bernie Sanders that the Vermont independent was not “making any sense.”

    Some senators had their own choice words.

    “You’re interrupting me, and sir, you’re a charlatan. That’s what you are, ” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat. “The history on vaccines is very clear.”

    As the hearing neared its end, Kennedy pulled his cellphone from his pocket and then tapped and scrolled as Wyden asked about mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortion.

    Kennedy disputes COVID-19 data

    In May, Kennedy announced COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a move opposed by medical and public health groups.

    In June, he abruptly fired a panel of experts that had been advising the government on vaccine policy. He replaced them with a handpicked group that included several vaccine skeptics, and then shut the door to several doctors groups that had long helped form the committee’s recommendations.

    Kennedy has voiced distrust of research that showed the COVID-19 vaccines saved lives, and at Thursday’s hearing even cast doubt on statistics about how people died during the pandemic and on estimates about how many deaths were averted — statistics produced by the agencies he oversees.

    He said federal health policy would be based on gold standard science, but confessed that he wouldn’t necessarily wait for studies to be completed before taking action against, for example, potential causes of chronic illness.

    “We are not waiting for everything to come in. We are starting now,” he said.

    A number of medical groups say Kennedy can’t be counted on to make decisions based on robust medical evidence. In a statement Wednesday, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and 20 other medical and public health organizations issued a joint statement calling on him to resign.

    “Our country needs leadership that will promote open, honest dialogue, not disregard decades of lifesaving science, spread misinformation, reverse medical progress and decimate programs that keep us safe,” the statement said.

    Many of the nation’s leading public health and medical societies, including the American Medical Association, American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have decried Kennedy’s policies and warn they will drive up rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.

    ___

    Stobbe reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

    ___

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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  • Rivian makes its second small workforce cut of the year ahead of R2 SUV launch | TechCrunch

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    Rivian is laying off around 150 workers — its second small staff cut in a matter of months — as the company readies itself for the all-important launch of its more-affordable R2 SUV next year.

    The company confirmed to TechCrunch that the new cuts were mostly to its “commercial” team, which deals with sales and service operations, and that affected employees will be eligible for rehire and encouraged to apply for other open positions. The Wall Street Journal first reported the layoffs earlier Thursday.

    The layoffs follow a similar cut of around 1% of its total workforce that TechCrunch first reported in late June. Those cuts targeted Rivian’s manufacturing team.

    Rivian has made repeated workforce adjustments over the last two years. It laid off around 10% of its staff in early 2024 and made another small cut in April 2024. The company started this year with approximately 15,000 employees worldwide.

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    Sean O’Kane

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  • Paramount Is Cutting Thousands of Jobs After Skydance Merger | Entrepreneur

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    Following the completion of an $8.4 billion merger earlier this month, Skydance Media and Paramount Global are now a new company called Paramount, a Skydance Corporation — and layoffs are reportedly on the horizon for the new entity.

    The newly formed company, which oversees media assets like CBS, MTV, and Comedy Central, is now preparing to cut jobs across its business, according to Variety.

    The layoffs are expected to occur by early November, when Paramount is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings, impacting around 2,000 to 3,000 jobs. The company is aiming for $2 billion in annual cost savings.

    Related: Paramount Global Is Laying Off Hundreds of Employees

    Paramount previously laid off 2,000 employees, or 15% of its U.S. workforce, in August 2024. The company has additionally laid off hundreds of employees in June of this year.

    As of Dec. 31, 2024, Paramount had approximately 18,600 full-time and part-time employees, per Variety. Skydance, meanwhile, has around 500 employees, according to its website.

    Paramount, a Skydance Company, Chairman and CEO David Ellison. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

    The cost savings were first mentioned in a July 2024 presentation to investors, following the announcement of the Paramount-Skydance deal. Jeff Shell, the former CEO of NBCUniversal and now the president of Paramount-Skydance, said during the presentation that the company worked with consulting firm Bain & Co. to find at least $2 billion in annual cost savings.

    Related: Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

    Shell indicated that the majority of cuts will affect Paramount’s linear TV businesses, including cable networks and broadcast, though he said that leaders “like” some of these businesses, “particularly CBS.”

    “We think it [CBS] is a very, very, very strong business with more reach than any other business,” Shell said at the time. “However, I think a lot of us in the business know, we got to run these businesses in a different way as they decline.”

    According to Paramount’s second-quarter earnings report, released in July, CBS was the most-watched broadcast network for the 17th consecutive season. The streaming service Paramount+ also saw revenue increase 23% year-over-year, with 24% subscription growth.

    Paramount, a Skydance Company, will be led by Chairman and CEO David Ellison, the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. The CEO founded Skydance Media in 2010 and has since led the production of films like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “The Tomorrow War.”

    Related: Meet David Ellison, Larry Ellison’s Son Who Is About to Take Over at Paramount

    Following news of the merger, Ellison wrote in a letter published to Paramount’s site that the moment combined “more than a century of iconic storytelling” with “the drive of a 15-year-old studio born in the digital era.”

    Paramount started trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the new ticker symbol “PSKY” earlier this month following the merger with Skydance. The newly combined company had a market value of over $10 billion at the time of writing.

    Following the completion of an $8.4 billion merger earlier this month, Skydance Media and Paramount Global are now a new company called Paramount, a Skydance Corporation — and layoffs are reportedly on the horizon for the new entity.

    The newly formed company, which oversees media assets like CBS, MTV, and Comedy Central, is now preparing to cut jobs across its business, according to Variety.

    The layoffs are expected to occur by early November, when Paramount is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings, impacting around 2,000 to 3,000 jobs. The company is aiming for $2 billion in annual cost savings.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Sherin Shibu

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  • ‘Low morale at the office’: We talked to a laid-off worker about the City of Denver’s job eliminations

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    DENVER — More city employees learned they were being laid off on Tuesday, as the City of Denver works to address a $200 million budget shortfall.

    The city began laying off employees on Monday.

    Many of the employees laid off on Tuesday worked for the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI).

    Denver7 has been listening to city employees over the past couple of days, as they waited to learn their fate.

    “Over the last couple of weeks, there was definitely a low morale around the office,” said Jessica, who was an administrative assistant for two years at DOTI. “[The] tension was high, and a lot of the conversation was mostly just about having anxiety over the situation.”

    Shortly after waking up Tuesday morning, Jessica logged into her computer and saw an invite to a virtual Teams meeting with Amy Ford, the executive director of DOTI.

    “It was pretty apparent upon receiving that Teams meeting request what was going to come next,” she said. “So for the next hour, I kind of just sat around with anxiety and, you know, being upset, and waited for that phone call.”

    It was during that call when Jessica learned she would be laid off.

    “Personally, I would have preferred it to just be an email,” Jessica said. “Not have that awkward Teams meeting where you’re on the camera crying.”

    She is among 171 employees the city let go Monday and Tuesday to help address a $200 million budget shortfall.

    The city also eliminated more than 660 vacant positions.

    “Obviously, these two days are hard days in the life of the city,” said Johnston. “One of the things I think you’ll notice is that due to the really difficult work we’ve done to try to control growth, the budget over the last year and a half, it means that we were able to do about 80% of the reductions yesterday on vacancies and not on filled positions with employees in them.”

    In an email sent to DOTI employees on Tuesday afternoon, which was shared with Denver7, Ford said the department had finished its layoff notification process.

    “Over the course of the last two days, I have individually spoken with each employee impacted by layoffs to thank them for their service to the department and the city and ensure that they were connected to the appropriate resources post-employment,” Ford wrote. “Each employee affected was a valued member of the DOTI team. Their dedication mattered to us and to those we served. I want to reinforce that the decision to utilize layoffs was a last resort to address an unprecedented budget situation, and not one that was taken lightly by me or the Mayor.”

    Jessica says prior to working for DOTI, she spent two years as an on-call employee at the Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST). But because it was considered a temporary position, she said it didn’t count toward her years of service and therefore wasn’t a factor in helping the DOTI determine who to lay off.

    “It’s really frustrating that those two years of service I had as an on-call aren’t totally included in my years of service,” said Jessica.

    She now finds herself back on the job market.

    “I do already have some friends reaching out and, you know, saying we might have openings where I am like, let me know if I can look over your resume,” said Jessica. “So, it’s nice to have that community here in Denver. I feel like Denver is a very community-based city, and people are willing to go out of their way to help you.”

    The city is providing laid-off employees with one month of paid administrative leave and two to 8 weeks of severance pay, depending on their years of service.

    Ford said Johnston would be conducting a virtual town hall on Wednesday morning. She said DOTI will hold virtual town halls next Tuesday, Aug. 26.

    Johnston will also host a roundtable with reporters on Wednesday to provide more details about the layoffs and his plan to address the remaining budget shortfall.

    Denver7 talks with a laid-off worker about the City of Denver’s job eliminations

    Denver7

    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Brandon Richard

    Denver7 politics reporter Brandon Richard closely follows developments at the State Capitol and in Washington, and digs deeper to find how legislation affects Coloradans in every community. If you’d like to get in touch with Brandon, fill out the form below to send him an email.

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  • Denver council member furious as husband loses job in city layoffs

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    FILE – Scott Gilmore, then-deputy executive director for Denver Parks and Recreation, addresses Denver City Council, Aug. 7, 2018. Gilmore was one of the nearly 200 city workers laid off during 2025’s major budget deficit.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Updated 8:39 p.m.

    The husband of a Denver city council member is among the 171 city workers being laid off this week. Scott Gilmore, who is married to Councilmember Stacie Gilmore, had been an executive with the parks department for more than a decade.

    “Thirteen years of service to the City and County of Denver. That means that when he started serving, our youngest daughter was 7 years old,” Councilmember Stacie Gilmore said at Monday’s regular council meeting.

    The council member was visibly emotional, pausing at times to compose herself.

    Scott Gilmore served most of his city career as a deputy executive director, a job that frequently put him front-and-center for media interviews and conversations with neighbors. But he recently became deputy executive director of mountain parks and special projects, a seemingly more specialized job.

    He started working for the city before Stacie Gilmore was first elected in 2015. In her comments, Gilmore seemed to imply that he was fired as retaliation for her battles with Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration.

    “He is a 61-year-old man that only wanted to serve out the last four years of his time until he was 65,” Councilmember Gilmore said. “And because of his sassy loudmouthed wife, he got let go.”

    Scott Gilmore agreed with his wife — he said he felt targeted because he and his wife have been outspoken behind the scenes. 

    “Ever since this administration took over, I’ve had questions about communications, transparency,” he said in an interview. “And this hasn’t been a very transparent process.”

    District 11 City Council member Stacie Gilmore at the legislative body’s weekly meeting. Oct. 16, 2023.
    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Scott Gilmore alleged a hostile work environment.

    Scott Gilmore originally was appointed to parks leadership by former Mayor Michael Hancock. But in 2021, the Hancock administration converted Gilmore’s job and a colleague’s to career service authority positions, as CBS Colorado reported. 

    The change made it more difficult for the city’s mayor — including its new mayor, Mike Johnston — to dismiss Gilmore. The change included a raise to a salary of $170,000 a year and drew criticism from Councilmember Amanda Sawyer, CBS reported at the time.

    Now, Gilmore said he is only one of seven people who are being laid off from the parks department, including himself.

    “I have had a very influential position and role within the city and department over the past fourteen years. I have directly hired a large majority of the Park Operation staff and the removal of my leadership of this team could have been done to minimize my influence on decision making within the department,” he wrote in an email, adding that the elimination could be “perceived as a retaliatory action of this administration.”

    In the email, he said that he had encountered a hostile work environment since July 2023, which is when Johnston’s administration took power.

    Scott Gilmore said that Stacie Gilmore had criticized the city’s budget decision and its spending on homelessness. The councilwoman also raised concerns about the administration’s plan to study nuclear power at the airport, which was recently delayed as a result.

    Stacie Gilmore ended her remarks on Monday by saying the “dog muzzle” had been removed from her and her husband.

    Mayoral spokesperson Jon Ewing said the city couldn’t comment on individual personnel decisions.

    The city used a formula to determine layoffs, with decisions based on an employee’s years of service, skills, abilities and performance. Agency leaders could adjust those factors’ weights on a department level. But administration officials said last week the system was designed to avoid reverse engineering that could target individuals.

    Scott Gilmore pointed out that his current job was not paid from the general fund. The city is looking for savings in the general fund and targeted most of the layoffs and job closures to related positions. But city officials said last week there were some circumstances where a person could be laid off even if they weren’t paid out of the general fund.

    Councilmember Gilmore represents far northeast Denver and is one of the longest-serving members of council. Scott Gilmore’s brother owns Gilmore Construction, a prominent local company; the connection has occasionally drawn criticism.

    Other council members called for more transparency and denounced parts of the layoff process.

    City Council did not get a say on whether there would be layoffs and how they would be administered, a decision that vexed some council members. 

    “I cannot safely say that these are the steps that needed to be taken, [a] direct to hit to our city workforce,” said at-large Councilmember Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez. “I would’ve loved to partner with the administration and our Department of Finance to find some other creative solutions.”

    City Council member Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez at her desk during the body’s weekly legislative meeting. Jan. 16, 2023.
    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    The criticism lined up with a similar one from Michael Wallin, the president of AFSCME Local Union 158 and an employee of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, who told Denverite that the city should have explored other options, like early retirement, before resorting to layoffs. 

    Council members also expressed their condolences for the scores of other workers who will be laid off on Monday and Tuesday. The city is trying to close a $250 million budget gap for this year and next year.

    “It’s a loss for our residents. It’s a loss for people I know in my family,” said council president Amanda Sandoval.

    Editor’s note: This article was updated with additional information and comment from Scott Gilmore.

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  • Big Interview Initiative Helps Federal Employees Transition Faster While Reducing Government Spending and Boosting State Economies

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    TAMPA, Fla., March 17, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In response to recent federal workforce reductions, Big Interview, the leader in AI-powered job training and interview coaching, is launching a new initiative designed to help laid-off federal employees transition into new private-sector jobs faster, reducing the financial burden on Unemployment Insurance (UI) systems and easing the strain on taxpayer dollars.

    A Commitment to Economic Impact and ROI
    With the national average weekly UI benefit at $442.96 and an average unemployment duration of 22 weeks, each displaced worker costs almost $10,000 in UI benefits alone.

    By cutting job search time by 4-5 weeks, Big Interview’s platform helps job seekers return to the workforce faster, leading to substantial savings for state and federal budgets.

    If 300,000 federal employees exit the workforce, helping just 1 in 6 secure a job four weeks faster with Big Interview could save an estimated $88 million in Unemployment Insurance (UI) costs-a significant win for workers, states, and the economy.

    Proven Impact
    Big Interview’s proven model has already delivered results, working with 10 state workforce development agencies to accelerate job placements and reduce reliance on UI systems. This results-driven approach aligns with the national focus on reducing government spending by decreasing long-term dependency on publicly funded benefits programs.

    In Maryland, over 60,000 job seekers have used Big Interview to land jobs an average of 4-5 weeks sooner, resulting in a reduction of UI claims and decreased fiscal pressure on the state budget.

    Leadership Perspective
    “We believe in supporting workforce reintegration while prioritizing economic responsibility,” said Steve Ruder, Vice President at Big Interview. “This initiative is a win-win: helping hardworking Americans transition to new careers while delivering measurable ROI for taxpayers and reducing government spending.”

    An Opportunity for States to Reduce Costs
    With over 2 million federal employees possibly impacted by recent changes, states have the opportunity to reduce UI costs, shorten unemployment durations, and strengthen their local economies by partnering with Big Interview.

    “We’re not just investing in people, we’re investing in economic recovery and accountability,” said Alex Andrei, CEO of Big Interview. “Using technology to streamline the transition process, we ensure that tax dollars are spent effectively, with maximum impact.”

    Call to Action
    For Federal Employees: Take the next step in your career transition with six months of free access to Big Interview’s comprehensive job training and coaching platform.

    For State Workforce Agencies: If your state is not yet partnered with Big Interview, contact us today to explore how this cost-effective, scalable solution will help reduce UI costs, accelerate job placements, and strengthen local economies.

    For more information about Big Interview’s impact on reducing government spending and accelerating workforce reintegration, visit our website.

    About Big Interview:
    Big Interview is an industry-leading online platform designed to help job seekers of all backgrounds build confidence and master their interview skills. Combining expert video lessons with AI-driven interview practice, Big Interview provides users with personalized feedback, real-time coaching, and tailored training for various industries and experience levels. Trusted by 10 state workforce agencies and over 700 higher education institutions, Big Interview has served more than 2 million job seekers. Big Interview is used by Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, workforce agencies, universities, and government organizations to help job seekers secure employment 5X faster than the national average.

    Contact Information
    Steve Ruder
    Vice President
    steve@biginterview.com
    (888) 734-4455 Ext 707

    Source: Big Interview

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  • Leap Academy by Ilana Golan Jumps in to Solve the Tech & USAID Mass Layoffs

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    Leading Career Reinvention Platform Offers Intensive Workshop and free trainings to Empower Laid-Off Professionals


    LOS ALTOS, Calif., February 18, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In the wake of significant tech and USAID mass layoffs, Leap Academy by Ilana Golan, the leading platform for career reinvention, is stepping up to provide immediate support and resources to affected professionals. Leap Academy, which transforms thousands of lives annually through its innovative programs, is offering a multi-day, intensive, and robust workshop designed specifically to help individuals navigate the challenging landscape of job loss and build a secure foundation for their future careers.

    The recent wave of layoffs has left countless talented individuals facing uncertainty and financial strain. Leap Academy recognizes the urgency of the situation and is committed to empowering these professionals with the tools and strategies they need to not only find new employment but also create a long-term safety net through personal branding and the development of a portfolio career.

    “We understand the devastating impact of layoffs, and we refuse to stand by while talented professionals are left adrift,” says Ilana Golan, Founder of Leap Academy. “At Leap Academy, we believe in the power of reinvention. These trainings and workshops are our direct response to the current crisis, providing a lifeline to those impacted by these mass layoffs. We’re equipping them with the skills to not just survive, but thrive.”

    Such intensive workshop will cover critical areas including:

    **Rapid Job Search Strategies:

    ** Proven techniques for quickly identifying and securing new opportunities in a competitive market.

    **Personal Branding & Online Presence:

    ** Crafting a compelling personal brand and optimizing online profiles to attract recruiters and potential employers.

    ** Portfolio Career Development:

    ** Exploring and building diversified income streams through a portfolio of skills and projects, creating long-term career resilience.

    **Networking & Interview Skills:

    ** Mastering the art of networking and acing interviews to maximize job prospects.

    **Financial Planning & Stability:** Strategies for managing finances during periods of transition and building a solid financial foundation.

    **Emotional Resilience & Mindset:

    ** Cultivating a positive and resilient mindset to navigate the challenges of job loss and career change.

    Leap Academy’s proven methodology combines expert instruction, practical exercises, and peer support to deliver transformative results. Participants will leave the workshop with a clear action plan, renewed confidence, and the resources they need to take control of their career trajectory.

    **About Leap Academy by Ilana Golan:**

    Leap Academy by Ilana Golan is the leading platform for career reinvention, empowering individuals to achieve their full potential and create fulfilling careers. Through its innovative programs, workshops, and community, Leap Academy has helped thousands of people transform their lives and careers. Founded by renowned career strategist Ilana Golan, Leap Academy is committed to providing accessible and impactful career development resources to professionals at all stages of their journey.
    Contact Information

    Source: Leap Academy

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