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Administration officials disclosed 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 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 government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains 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, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often 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 prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

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

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.