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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings 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 “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. 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 before then.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

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

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.