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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.