🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, saying, “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 bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed 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 fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “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, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.