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Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

While the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head 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 not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.