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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.

Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.