White House Reveals Government Worker Job Cuts as Shutdown Approaches Third Week
Administration officials confirmed the initiation of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Early Information
Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the official procedure for terminating staff.
While Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.
During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican 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 opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.
A report contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs took place on the same day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the beginning of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have failed to keep our government open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.
