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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said 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.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.