🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” 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, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning 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 impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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