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The White House confirmed the start of government employee layoffs on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.

Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges

Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to vote for a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP bill, which was approved 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. “Starting next week, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated before the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

These terminations took place on the same day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.

A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s impact on government workers.

“It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our government open and operational,” Stier stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.