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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed 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, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, 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 administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.