🔗 Share this article

The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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