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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” 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 sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

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

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.