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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

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 government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.