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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, 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 said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.