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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, 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 Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats 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 fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

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

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