🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, 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 do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report 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 before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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