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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains 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 soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government 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 government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors 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 funding gap.