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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, 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 opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.