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The White House disclosed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement 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 agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.