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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“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 on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.