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Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” 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

Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.