🔗 Share this article White House Announces Government Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Approaches Three-Week Mark Administration officials disclosed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Early Information Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go. Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Court Actions Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services used by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court. “It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, 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 Congressional Democrats have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved before then. At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a complete payment.” Legal and Operational Constraints Last week, labor groups sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Additionally, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been brought back to execute layoffs. A report contended that a government shutdown restricts the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the shutdown began. Consequences for Employees These terminations took place 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 the current month, since funding lapsed at the start of the period. A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees. “It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.” A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.