Administration officials disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.
The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for terminating staff.
While the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.
During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Last week, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.
An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.
The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.
Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.
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