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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized 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 opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters 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 during the shutdown.