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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.

Although Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in the legal system.

This is shameful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to communities across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE.

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

Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute

Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved soon.

At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

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 government to provide specifics on termination strategies, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.