🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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