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The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber 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 reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.