🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Third Week Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week. Formal Statement and Initial Details Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff. Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Union Response and Court Actions Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system. “It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads 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 support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains 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 ended before then. At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began. Impact on Workers The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but not the beginning of October, 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. This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.