Administration Announces Government Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Third Week
The White House confirmed the initiation of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on earlier warnings in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
Russell Vought wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for letting employees go.
While Vought did not specify which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been distributed within that agency. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.
Union Response and Court Actions
Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the actions in the legal system.
This is shameful that the government has used the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US responded to the announcement, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.
During a press conference, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting the Republican bill, which passed in the lower chamber on a near party-line vote.
“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. Beginning shortly, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Last week, labor groups filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to carry out layoffs.
An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to carry out firings, referencing guidance that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the funding expired.
Consequences for Employees
The layoffs took place on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck for the final days of September but not the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the political stalemate’s effect on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.
