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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, 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 Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican 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 Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

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

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.