🔗 Share this article Administration Reveals Government Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Third Week Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week. Formal Statement and Initial Details The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff. Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force. Union Response and Court Actions Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system. “It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon. During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber 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.” Legal and Operational Constraints Previously, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs. A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired. Consequences for Employees The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning 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 federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.