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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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