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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place 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 October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

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 air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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