Administration Reveals Federal Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Third Week
Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.
While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle
Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.
During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.
A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.
