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The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Court Actions

Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by the public and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican proposal, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” Johnson stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.

This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters 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 during the funding gap.