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The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.