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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved 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 fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our 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.