Administration Announces Federal Employee Job Cuts as Funding Gap Approaches Three-Week Mark
Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker layoffs on the end of the week, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing US government shutdown, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
Russell Vought posted on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” indicating the official procedure for terminating staff.
Although Vought did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that agency. Furthermore, a DHS representative noted that staff reductions would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a labor organization representing federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be affected by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Union leaders cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services used by the public and vowed to challenge the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the government shutdown as an excuse to wrongfully terminate thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to reopen the government unless it includes provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the GOP leadership in the Senate have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, meaning the deadlock is not expected to be resolved soon.
At a press conference, the GOP leader in the House, Mike Johnson, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which passed in the House on a largely partisan basis.
“This is the last paycheck that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to fulfill their duties and end the shutdown,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Last week, unions sought a temporary restraining order to block the government from implementing any layoffs during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and if any federal employees had been brought back to carry out layoffs.
A report argued that a funding lapse limits the ability of the government to carry out firings, citing official advice that acknowledged any long-term staff cuts need to have been initiated prior to the funding expired.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the end of September but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.
Max Stier, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the gridlock’s impact on government workers.
This is unjust to make government staff bear the burden because our leaders in the legislature and the administration have failed to keep our government running,” the advocate stated. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not responsible for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are still receiving salaries during the shutdown.
