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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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