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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set 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 process for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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