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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through 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 “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department 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 relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted 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 start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.