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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee 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 consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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