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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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