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The White House disclosed 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 stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved 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, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.