🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but not the start of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, 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 government running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.