White House Reveals Federal Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week
Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, making good on earlier warnings linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for letting employees go.
While the official provided no details on which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would take place at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves in court.
“It is disgraceful that the administration has used the funding lapse as an pretext to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved before then.
During a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.
“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 said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, labor groups filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.
A report contended that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees got only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations lapsed at the beginning of the month.
A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.
