White House Announces Government Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Three-Week Mark
Administration officials disclosed the start of government employee terminations on the end of the week, following through on prior threats in response to the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now poised to extend into its third consecutive week.
Official Announcement and Initial Details
Russell Vought wrote on a public platform that “RIFs have begun,” referring to the government’s process for letting employees go.
While the official provided no details on which departments were impacted, a representative from the Treasury Department stated that notices had been issued within that department. Additionally, a DHS representative indicated that staff reductions would also occur at the CISA. Moreover, a labor organization for federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would be affected by the reduction in force.
Labor Reaction and Court Actions
Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “severe consequences” on services used by the public and pledged to challenge the actions in court.
“It is disgraceful that the government has exploited the government shutdown as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who provide essential functions to the public across the country,” said Everett Kelley, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees.
The AFL-CIO responded to the announcement, declaring, “Labor organizations will see you in court.”
Political Standoff and Funding Battle
Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to vote for a Republican-backed legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following 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 ended soon.
During a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted opposition lawmakers for not supporting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis.
Federal workers’ final pay that government employees will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. Beginning shortly, American service members, who often live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.”
Legal and Operational Constraints
Previously, labor groups sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from implementing any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a federal judge ordered the administration to disclose details on layoff plans, impacted departments, and whether any government staff had been recalled to execute layoffs.
An analysis argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the administration to carry out firings, citing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired.
Impact on Workers
These terminations took place on the very day that federal workers received only a partial paycheck for the end of the previous month but excluding the start of the current month, since funding expired at the start of the period.
A public service advocate, the president of the non-profit Partnership for Public Service, criticized the political stalemate’s impact on federal employees.
This is unjust to make federal employees suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations open and operational,” the advocate said. “Our air traffic controllers, VA nurses, smoke jumpers and safety officials are not at fault for this government shutdown.”
The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.