Administration Reveals Federal Worker Layoffs as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of federal worker 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 Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for letting employees go.
Although Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union 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 “devastating effects” on services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.
At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.
“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” Johnson 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 block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.
A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing 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 partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.
Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.
This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.
