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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding 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, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.