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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House 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, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs 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 appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.