Administration Announces Federal Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Third Week
The White House disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats in response 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.
Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson stated that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is not expected to be ended soon.
At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and whether any government staff had been brought back to execute layoffs.
A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the administration to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.
Consequences for Employees
These terminations occurred on the very day that federal workers got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of the previous month but not the beginning of October, since appropriations lapsed at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.
“It is wrong to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the funding gap.