🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats 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, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.