🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

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

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

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.