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Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers 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.