🔗 Share this article White House Announces Federal Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Early Information Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go. Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing 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 “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system. “It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE. The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then. During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote. “This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs. A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began. Impact on Workers These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month. A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers. This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.