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The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to 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 not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations 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 members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.