🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Government Employee Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Third Week The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week. Official Announcement and Initial Details Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go. Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force. Union Response and Court Actions Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in court. This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Budget Dispute Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon. At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. “This is the last paycheck 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, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions. An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began. Impact on Workers The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.