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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch 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,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“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. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters 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 during the funding gap.