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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.