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The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, 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 funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, condemned 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 government open and operational,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.