Administration Reveals Federal Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Approaches Third Week
The White House disclosed the start of federal worker layoffs on Friday, making good on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to stretch into its third straight week.
Formal Statement and Initial Details
The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for terminating staff.
Although the official did not specify which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been distributed within that department. Furthermore, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union for federal workers announced that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force.
Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and pledged to contest the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who provide essential functions to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Congressional Democrats have refused to support a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After repeated failed attempts, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until the following week, meaning the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then.
During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for rejecting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.
“This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Last week, unions sought a court injunction to block the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out staff reductions.
An analysis argued that a government shutdown limits the ability of the administration to carry out firings, referencing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started before the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
These terminations occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the end of September but excluding the start of October, since funding expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the president of the advocacy group, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our government running,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the shutdown.