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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

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 court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “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, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

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