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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, 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 media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders 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.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted 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 government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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