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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber 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 said. “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 prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, 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 amid the funding gap.