🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Approaches Three-Week Mark The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week. Official Announcement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go. Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative 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 impacted by the staff cuts. Union Response and Legal Challenges Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court. “It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE. The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon. At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis. “This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began. Impact on Workers The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.