Administration Reveals Government Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark
The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.
Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education 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 the public and vowed to contest the moves in court.
This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions 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 includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.
During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, 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 end the shutdown,” 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
Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.