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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the start 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 federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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