Administration Reveals Federal Worker Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.
Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.
During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.
A report contended that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.
“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.