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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, 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 legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.