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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, 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 government to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.