🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “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 healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often 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 administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.