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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House 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,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but not the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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