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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.

While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.