🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

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

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.