🔗 Share this article

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

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

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

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.