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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties 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

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before 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 the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.