🔗 Share this article Administration Reveals Government Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Third Week Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Initial Details The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff. While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts. Union Response and Legal Challenges Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court. This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE. The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Budget Dispute Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon. At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. 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 stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing 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 very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned 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 federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.