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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

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

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

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 repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.