🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

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.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction 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, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.