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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

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

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse 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. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats 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 Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.