White House Announces Federal Worker Layoffs as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.
While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.
This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.
During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.
An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.
“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.
