White House Announces Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Three-Week Mark

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but not the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.