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The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

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

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.