Administration officials disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week.
The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the government’s process for terminating staff.
Although Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Labor representatives warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.
During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting the GOP bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.
“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Previously, unions sought a court injunction to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs.
A report argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.
These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of the previous month but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.
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