Administration Announces Government Employee Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Third Week
The White House disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
Russell Vought 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 stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the reduction in force.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.
At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Last week, unions filed for a court injunction to block the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the period.
Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.