WASHINGTON 

A group of Democratic senators on Tuesday criticized the Trump administration’s plan to fire federal workers amid the government shutdown, now in its 14th day.

Led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, lawmakers condemned what they described at a news conference as an attack on public servants and an effort by President Donald Trump to exploit the shutdown for political gain.

White House budget director Russell Vought announced Friday that layoffs of federal workers "have begun."

"When Donald Trump and Russ Vought ... when they viciously attack our federal employees, they are attacking the American people. That is what they are doing," said Van Hollen. "And this shutdown is different from earlier ones, because Donald Trump and Russ Vought and all their cronies are using this moment to terrorize these patriotic federal employees.”

Van Hollen urged Trump to return to the negotiating table.

"So, the message we have today is very simple, very simple. Donald Trump and Russ Vought, stop attacking federal employees, stop attacking the American people, and start negotiating to reopen the federal government and address the looming health care crisis is upon us," he added.

Sen. Mark Warner echoed the frustration, emphasizing that Republicans held full control of the federal government when the shutdown began.

"We know right now, the Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate. This is a Donald Trump-Russ Vought shutdown. It needs to come to an end," Warner told the crowd.

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks went further, accusing the administration of intentionally orchestrating the shutdown to shift government priorities in favor of the wealthy.

"This is their shutdown, and it was always their plan," said Alsobrooks, adding that the shutdown "is repurposing the government to benefit the billionaires."

"This evil cannot last. What we have seen happen to our federal employees, we're going to continue to speak out," she added.

During previous government shutdowns, standard procedure has been to keep essential workers on the job, but unpaid, and furlough nonessential workers, also unpaid, but then give them all back pay once the shutdown is over.

Trump, however, has threatened to fire, not just furlough, thousands of workers and not give others back pay.

Democrats and labor unions call the moves illegal and pledged a challenge in court.