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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

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. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.