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The White House confirmed the start of government employee terminations on Friday, following through on prior threats linked to the ongoing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to extend into its third straight week.

Official Announcement and Early Information

The director of the White House budget office posted on a public platform that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff.

While the official did not specify which agencies were affected, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that layoff warnings had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson indicated that layoffs would take place at the CISA. Also, a union for federal workers announced that members at the Education Department would be impacted by the staff cuts.

Union Response and Legal Challenges

Union leaders cautions that the terminations would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and vowed to challenge the actions in the legal system.

“It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who deliver critical services to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, representing the AFGE.

The largest labor federation in the US reacted to the news, declaring, “America’s unions will see you in court.”

Political Standoff and Funding Battle

Congressional Democrats have declined to vote for a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it contains provisions related to health policy. After multiple unsuccessful votes, the Senate’s Republican leaders have put the chamber in recess until next Tuesday, indicating the deadlock is not expected to be ended soon.

During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the Republican bill, which was approved in the House on a near party-line vote.

Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until Washington Democrats decide to fulfill their duties and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, military personnel, who often live on tight budgets, are going to miss a full paycheck.”

Legal and Operational Constraints

Previously, unions filed for a court injunction to prevent the administration from implementing any reductions in force during the funding gap. Moreover, a court official directed the government to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any federal employees had been brought back to execute staff reductions.

An analysis contended that a funding lapse restricts the authority of the government to conduct terminations, citing guidance that admitted any permanent layoffs need to have been started prior to the shutdown began.

Impact on Workers

The layoffs took place on the very day that federal workers got only a partial paycheck covering the final days of the previous month but excluding the beginning of the current month, since appropriations expired at the beginning of the period.

A public service advocate, the head of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.

“It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our elected officials in the legislature and the White House have not succeeded to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate stated. The air traffic controllers, VA nurses, wildland firefighters and safety officials are not responsible for this government shutdown.”

The irony is that lawmakers and senior White House leaders are continuing to be paid during the funding gap.