🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

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

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.