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

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees 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 services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” 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

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.