🔗 Share this article

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, 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,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.