White House Announces Government Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Nears Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third consecutive week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
Russell Vought posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.
Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.
“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.
During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.
A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the period.
Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.
