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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the government has used 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 reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP 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 do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often 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 administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.