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

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.