Administration Announces Government Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Third Week
The White House confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for letting employees go.
While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.
Union Response and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the terminations 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 used the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” said 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 refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended before then.
During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the House 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 end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.
A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.