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Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.

Formal Statement and Initial Details

The director of the White House budget office wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.

While the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members 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 public services used by millions of Americans and pledged to contest the actions in court.

“It is disgraceful that the government has used the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, representing the AFGE.

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

Political Standoff and Budget Dispute

Lawmakers from the Democratic party have refused to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Judicial and Practical Limits

Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.

An analysis contended that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.

Consequences for Employees

The layoffs occurred on the same day that federal workers received only a incomplete payment for the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.

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

“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”

A notable point is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.