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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber 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,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.