White House Announces Federal Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Third Week

Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

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 department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to contest the actions in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.