🔗 Share this article Administration Reveals Government Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Three-Week Mark The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week. Formal Statement and Early Information Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff. While Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Court Actions Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court. This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, 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 soon. During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized 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 opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.” Judicial and Practical Limits Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired. Impact on Workers These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the month. Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.” The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.