Administration Announces Federal Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark
Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for terminating staff.
Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then.
During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved 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 reopen the government,” Johnson said. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.
A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.
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 federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.
