Administration Reveals Federal Worker Job Cuts as Shutdown Nears Three-Week Mark
The White House disclosed the initiation of government employee terminations on the end of the week, making good on prior threats in response to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third straight week.
Official Announcement and Early Information
The director of the White House budget office posted on social media that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the official process for terminating staff.
Although the official did not specify which departments were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department confirmed that notices had been distributed within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers announced that employees at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.
Union Response and Court Actions
Union leaders warned that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on public services relied upon by the public and vowed to challenge the moves in court.
This is shameful that the government has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated Everett Kelley, representing the American Federation of Government Employees.
The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Budget Dispute
Congressional Democrats have declined to support a GOP-supported bill to reopen the government unless it contains healthcare-centered concessions. Following multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until the following week, indicating the standoff is not expected to be resolved soon.
At a media briefing, the Republican House speaker, the speaker, criticized opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP bill, which passed in the House on a near party-line vote.
“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, American service members, many of whom live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”
Judicial and Practical Limits
Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to block the government from carrying out any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, affected agencies, and whether any federal employees had been recalled to execute staff reductions.
An analysis argued that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing guidance that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.
Impact on Workers
The layoffs occurred on the same day that government employees received only a incomplete payment for the final days of September but excluding the beginning of October, since appropriations expired at the start of the month.
A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, condemned the gridlock’s effect on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our elected officials in Congress and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, wildland firefighters and food inspectors are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid during the shutdown.
