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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.