🔗 Share this article

Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House 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 end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’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 federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.