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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education 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 vowed to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide 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 news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact 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,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.