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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders 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 full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

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

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.