🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, 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

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, 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 suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.