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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and vowed 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 deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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