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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed 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 fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.