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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch 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 terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees 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 services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed 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 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 complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. “Our 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 continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.