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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

While the official 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 DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

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

This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.