🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

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