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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay 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, military personnel, 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 prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning 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 government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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