Administration Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Three-Week Mark
The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Early Information
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.
While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges
Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.
During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.
Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.
“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.