🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.