🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed 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 reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.