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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

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 the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

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