🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week. Formal Statement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go. Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force. Union Response and Legal Challenges Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system. “It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then. At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, 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 opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions. An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began. Consequences for Employees The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month. A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees. This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.” The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.