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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following 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 resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting 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 reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.