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The White House disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Initial Details

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

Although the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.

At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.

A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress 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 responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.