🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Government Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Third Week The White House confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week. Formal Statement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go. While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Union Response and Legal Challenges Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court. “It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees. The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then. At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis. “This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute staff reductions. A report contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired. Consequences for Employees These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees. “It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.” A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.