🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for 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 “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “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 filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.