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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings 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. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, 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 Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

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

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.