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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.