🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting 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 Washington Democrats decide to do their job 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.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.