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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves 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 across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.