🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

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

Max Stier, 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 elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.