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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House 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 reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received 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 month.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress 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 government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.