Chicago Mayor Faces Backlash Over City Hall Custodian Layoffs

Council members accuse Mayor Johnson of scapegoating them for budget cuts

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing pushback from City Council members after announcing the layoff of City Hall custodians, with some lawmakers accusing the mayor of scapegoating the council in the ongoing battle over the city's budget allocations.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights the political tensions between the mayor and City Council over how to manage Chicago's finances, with the custodian layoffs becoming a flashpoint in the broader debate.

The details

Mayor Johnson cited budget constraints as the reason for the layoff notices sent to City Hall custodians. However, some council members have accused the mayor of unfairly blaming the council for the budget decisions that led to the job cuts, arguing that the mayor is using the custodians as political pawns in the larger budget fight.

  • The layoff notices were sent to City Hall custodians on February 5, 2026.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The current mayor of Chicago.

Chicago City Council

The legislative body of the City of Chicago, which has pushed back on Mayor Johnson's explanation for the custodian layoffs.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let the mayor scapegoat the City Council for his own budget decisions that are hurting hardworking Chicagoans.”

— Unnamed City Council member (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The City Council is expected to hold hearings to further investigate the reasons behind the custodian layoffs and the mayor's budget priorities.

The takeaway

The dispute over the City Hall custodian layoffs highlights the ongoing political tensions between Mayor Johnson and the City Council, with both sides accusing the other of mismanaging the city's finances and failing to prioritize the needs of Chicago residents.