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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

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

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.