🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform 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 issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, 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 layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.