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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House 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 reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts 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 incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.