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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.

Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, 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 opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions sought a court injunction to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.

Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.