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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.