🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded 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 bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.