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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

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

“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, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.