🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.