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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP 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 Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.