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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization 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 services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

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

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.