🔗 Share this article White House Announces Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week. Formal Statement and Initial Details Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go. Although Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force. Union Response and Legal Challenges Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court. This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon. During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote. “This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs. A report contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired. Consequences for Employees The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers. “It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.” The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.