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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good 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

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

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

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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