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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.