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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

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

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation 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, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved 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 fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.