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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff 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 was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.