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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.