🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, 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. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.