🔗 Share this article

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

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate 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, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following 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 resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, 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 government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.