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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.