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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.