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The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure 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 department. Furthermore, a DHS 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 Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.