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

Formal Statement and Early Information

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 impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.