🔗 Share this article Administration Announces Federal Employee Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on earlier warnings linked to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is set to extend into its third consecutive week. Official Announcement and Early Information Russell Vought posted on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the government’s procedure for letting employees go. While Vought provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Furthermore, a DHS spokesperson indicated that staff reductions would take place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Moreover, a union representing federal workers announced that members at the Department of Education would be impacted by the reduction in force. Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “severe consequences” on public services used by millions of Americans and vowed to contest the moves 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 critical services to communities nationwide,” said Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees. The largest labor federation in the US responded to the news, saying, “America’s unions will see you in court.” Political Standoff and Funding Battle Congressional Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, meaning the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon. During a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized 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 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 carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Additionally, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether 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, citing official advice that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been initiated before the shutdown began. Consequences for Employees These terminations took place on the same day that government employees got only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the beginning of the period. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, condemned the political stalemate’s impact on government workers. This is unjust to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the administration have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” Stier stated. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.” The irony is that members of Congress and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.