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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged 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 across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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