White House Announces Federal Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week
Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.
Although Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.
This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.
At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.
Impact on Workers
These terminations took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.
Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.
This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”
A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.