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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver 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, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.