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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.