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The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, 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 same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.