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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing 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 official process for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.