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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.