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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform 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 notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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