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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended before then.

At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, 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 said. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.