Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.
While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.
At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.
An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.
A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.
