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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place 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 expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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