🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations 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.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education 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 used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House 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 reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs 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 incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.