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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.