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Administration officials confirmed the initiation of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains 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 unlikely to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

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

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 leaders in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.