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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed 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 reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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