🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often 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 block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.