🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Federal Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week. Formal Statement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go. While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system. This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE. The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then. At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, 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 do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions. An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began. Impact on Workers These terminations occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.