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

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions 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 reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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