🔗 Share this article

The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

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

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.