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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that members 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 actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.