🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff. Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Court Actions Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in court. This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon. During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, 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 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began. Impact on Workers These terminations took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period. A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers. “It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.