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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, 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 “reductions in force 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 stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.