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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting 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 fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.