🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good 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,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

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

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong 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,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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