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The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

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

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.