🔗 Share this article Administration Reveals Government Worker Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Initial Details Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go. Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Court Actions Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court. This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then. During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs. A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began. Consequences for Employees The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the month. Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.