Administration Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week
The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.
While Vought did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.
At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.