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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur 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 reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.