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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.