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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.