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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson 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

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the beginning 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 government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.