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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used 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 largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber 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,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, 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 continuing to be paid during the shutdown.