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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official 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 issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees 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 on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

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

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

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.