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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report 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 started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.