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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing 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 social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.

Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place 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 non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.