Administration Announces Government Worker Layoffs as Shutdown Approaches Three-Week Mark
Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats in response to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s procedure for letting employees go.
Although the official provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.
This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to reopen the government unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.
At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.
Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a court official directed the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute staff reductions.
A report contended that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing 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 same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.