🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Federal Employee Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Three-Week Mark The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is set to stretch into its third straight week. Official Announcement and Initial Details The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff. While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a treasury spokesperson confirmed that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the staff cuts. Union Response and Legal Challenges Union leaders warned that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on public services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system. This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who deliver essential functions to communities nationwide,” said a national union president, who leads the AFGE. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a Republican-backed bill to reopen the government unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until the following week, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon. At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican proposal, which passed in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker stated. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the administration to provide specifics on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions. A report argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the government to conduct terminations, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the funding expired. Consequences for Employees These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a partial paycheck covering the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since appropriations expired at the start of the period. Max Stier, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers. “It is wrong to make government staff bear the burden because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.” The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries amid the shutdown.