🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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