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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected 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 lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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