🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies 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 take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains 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.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, 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 fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

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

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.