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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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 the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“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 said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations 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 federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.