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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.