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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains 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 ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

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

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers 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 during the shutdown.