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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Formal Statement and Early Information

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

While Vought provided no details on which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced 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 layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the moves in court.

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

The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the Republican proposal, 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 end the shutdown,” Johnson said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.

A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.

Max Stier, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.

This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.