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The White House disclosed 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 extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

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

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

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.