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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House 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,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.