White House Announces Federal Employee Layoffs as Funding Gap Nears Three-Week Mark
Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee layoffs on the end of the week, 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
Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.
While Vought did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in the legal system.
This is shameful that the administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Legislative Impasse and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be resolved before then.
At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.
“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and end the shutdown,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, who often 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 government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute layoffs.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that acknowledged any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the funding expired.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck for the end of September but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” Stier said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this funding crisis.”
The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.