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The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “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 bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job 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 prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed 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 government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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