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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported 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 standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders 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, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.