🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans 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 critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP 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 Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

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,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials 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 shutdown.