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The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials 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 shutdown.