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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting 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 do their job 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.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing 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 very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.