Administration Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week
Administration officials confirmed 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.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.
While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.
This is shameful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.
During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.
“This is the last paycheck 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.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.
A report contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations running,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the funding gap.