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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, 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 fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, 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 layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.