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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.