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

Official Announcement and Initial Details

Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.

Although Vought provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Labor Reaction and Court Actions

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in the legal system.

This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber 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 said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, impacted departments, and if any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but not the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.