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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

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

“This is the last paycheck 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.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

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 elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.