🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Government Worker Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Third Week Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week. Formal Statement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff. While Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force. Union Response and Legal Challenges Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged 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 numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon. At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions. A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired. Impact on Workers The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period. Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers. “It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.