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The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend 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,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.

A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.