Administration Reveals Federal Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Third Week
Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Early Information
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.
Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the moves in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains 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, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.
At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.
“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
A report contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September 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 advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.
