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Massive firings of government workers have begun, as GOP legislators apply pressure on Democrat counterparts to end a government shutdown. The administration's financial office described the layoffs as “significant,” with unions for federal workers taking the matter to court. The president commented that the employment cuts “will be a lot” and implied that those losing jobs would be in areas that were “Democrat oriented.”

Administration Declares Federal Worker Reductions

The executive branch revealed staff cuts of government employees on Friday, fulfilling a threat it had made in response to the federal closure, which now seems probable to stretch into a consecutive third week. The director of the White House office of management and budget posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the federal process to terminate staff.

President Threatens 100% China Tariffs

The US president has vowed to impose further US tariffs of 100% on Chinese goods from the coming month, charging the Chinese government of “very hostile” moves to limit exports of rare earths required for US manufacturing. Financial markets fell significantly after the American leader reignited public tensions with the Chinese government, and raised the possibility of a further contentious trade war between the planet's biggest economies.

Military Troops Seen on City Streets

Reserve troops were seen patrolling in Memphis for the initial occasion on Friday, as part of the president's disputed federal taskforce, amid intense legal challenges as he was prevented from deploying troops to Chicago and a judicial decision was pending in the Oregon city.

University Declines Administration Proposal to Overhaul Procedures

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has emerged as the first American college to formally turn down a executive proposal that would overhaul university guidelines in return for preferential entry to federal funding.

White House Criticizes Perceived Nobel Peace Prize Omission

The White House has denounced the peace prize panel's decision to grant the Nobel peace prize to a candidate besides the president. “The award panel demonstrated they place politics over harmony,” wrote a presidential advisor and head of communications.

What Else Happened This Day:

• The chief executive underwent what he has characterized as a “biannual health exam” at the Walter Reed national military medical center.
• As many as forty US academics have been dismissed or disciplined after rightwing campaigns focused on their comments on an assassination, causing a “climate of anxiety” on university grounds.
• Leading NY politicians have come together behind a state official a 24 hours after she was indicted on mortgage fraud charges by a government lawyer appointed by the president.