Administration Reveals Government Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.
While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in court.
This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.
During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.
“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.