🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement 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.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After 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.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

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 leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.