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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs 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

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes 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, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.