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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.