🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, 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 same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.