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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch 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 government’s process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, 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 bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.