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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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