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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected 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 vowed to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing 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 Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved 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 fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom 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 directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed 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 federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.