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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch 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 government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.