🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Federal Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Approaches Three-Week Mark Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week. Formal Statement and Early Information Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff. Although the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system. This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon. During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs. An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began. Impact on Workers These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period. Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers. “It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.” The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.