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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration 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 very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.