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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 straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month 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 advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.