🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating 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 distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

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

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning 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 suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.