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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

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

While the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest 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 provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect 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,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.