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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting 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 opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect 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 government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.