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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing 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

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, 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 media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican 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 opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.