🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved 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 do their job 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

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.