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The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes 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 standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed 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,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.