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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, 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 do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.