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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing 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 services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.