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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions 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 Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.