White House Announces Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week

The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

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

While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

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