Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) added her name to Republicans who aren't happy with the move from President Donald Trump's administration to issue mass layoffs to huge swaths of federal workers.
On Friday, Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought announced via social media that "RIFs," or reduction in force, were going out to federal employees across departments. Reporters have now confirmed the layoffs are happening at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, and more, said Government Executive.
"While few details have been shared about Russell Vought’s latest layoffs, there is no question this is poorly timed and yet another example of this administration’s punitive actions toward the federal workforce," said Murkowski. "The termination of federal employees in a shutdown will further hurt hard-working Americans who have dedicated their lives to public service and jeopardize agency missions once we finally re-open the government."
She went on to call for constituents impacted to reach out to her office.
"If you are an Alaskan who has been impacted by these orders and want to share your experience, please reach out to my office," she wrote on X.
The comments follow Sen. Susan Collins' (R-ME) expression of concern about the RIFs, which she then used to attack Democrats.
'I strongly oppose OMB Director Russ Vought's attempt to permanently lay of federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown caused by Senator Schumer. Regardless of whether federal employees have been working without pay or have been furloughed, their work is incredibly important to serving the public. Arbitrary layoffs result in a lack of sufficient personnel needed to conduct the mission of the agency and to deliver essential programs, and cause harm to families in Maine and throughout our country," Collins said in a statement.
A few hours after the announcement that the RIFs were going out to HUD, Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC) called on the government to reopen because his constituents needed HUD's help.