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Administration officials confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings 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 a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice 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 got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the period.

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

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.