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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought 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 departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur 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.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in court.

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

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.