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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

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

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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