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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US 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 vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

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

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, 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 suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration 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 members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.