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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed 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. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned 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 failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.