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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US 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 vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

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

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

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