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The White House disclosed the start of government employee 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 straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since funding expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.