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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“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 federal operations running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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