🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, 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 Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

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