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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.