🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.