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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

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

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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