White House Reveals Government Worker Layoffs as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week
The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee layoffs 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.
Official Announcement and Early Information
The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.
While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a Department of Homeland Security representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the reduction in force.
Union Response and Court Actions
Labor representatives warned that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.
This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the AFGE.
The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle
Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until the following week, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be resolved before then.
At a press conference, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, blasted Senate Democrats for not supporting 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 Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, military personnel, many of whom 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 block the administration from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been recalled to carry out staff reductions.
A report argued that a government shutdown limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been started before the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
These terminations took place on the very day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the month.
Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
A notable point is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.