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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

Although the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place 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 reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved 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,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.