🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Government Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Three-Week Mark Administration officials confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, 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 “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff. While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force. Labor Reaction and Court Actions Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court. This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon. At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis. “This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions. A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired. Consequences for Employees The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized 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 not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.” The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.