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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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