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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” 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

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.