🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, 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 political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.