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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the president 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 leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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