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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

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

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers 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 during the funding gap.