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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, 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 amid the shutdown.