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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’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 failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.