🔗 Share this article White House Reveals Federal Worker Job Cuts as Funding Gap Nears Third Week Administration officials confirmed the start of federal worker terminations on Friday, making good on prior threats linked to the continuing federal funding lapse, which is now poised to stretch into its third consecutive week. Official Announcement and Early Information The director of the White House budget office wrote on social media that “reductions in force have begun,” indicating the official process for terminating staff. Although the official provided no details on which agencies were impacted, a treasury spokesperson stated that notices had been issued within that agency. Additionally, a DHS spokesperson noted that layoffs would also occur at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also, a union representing federal workers confirmed that employees at the Department of Education would be impacted by the staff cuts. Labor Reaction and Legal Challenges Labor representatives cautions that the layoffs would have “devastating effects” on services relied upon by millions of Americans and pledged to challenge the moves in court. “It is disgraceful that the administration has exploited the funding lapse as an pretext to wrongfully terminate numerous employees who deliver essential functions to the public nationwide,” stated a national union president, who leads the American Federation of Government Employees. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news, saying, “Labor organizations will see you in court.” Legislative Impasse and Funding Battle Lawmakers from the Democratic party have declined to support a GOP-supported legislation to restore funding unless it includes healthcare-centered concessions. Following repeated failed attempts, the Senate’s Republican leaders have adjourned the Senate until next Tuesday, indicating the standoff is unlikely to be ended before then. At a media briefing, the GOP leader in the House, the speaker, blasted Senate Democrats for rejecting the GOP proposal, which was approved in the lower chamber on a largely partisan basis. Federal workers’ final pay that 700,000 federal workers will see until opposition leaders decide to do their job and reopen the government,” the speaker said. “Starting next week, American service members, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, are going to miss a complete payment.” Judicial and Practical Limits Previously, unions filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from carrying out any reductions in force during the shutdown. Moreover, a court official ordered the government to disclose details on termination strategies, affected agencies, and if any government staff had been brought back to carry out layoffs. A report argued that a funding lapse limits the authority of the government to conduct terminations, referencing official advice that admitted any long-term staff cuts need to have been started prior to the funding expired. Impact on Workers The layoffs occurred on the very day that government employees received only a incomplete payment covering the final days of September but not the start of October, since funding lapsed at the beginning of the month. A public service advocate, the head of the advocacy group, criticized the gridlock’s effect on government workers. “It is wrong to make government staff suffer because our leaders in Congress and the White House have failed to keep our federal operations running,” the advocate said. The flight regulators, veterans’ healthcare providers, smoke jumpers and food inspectors are not at fault for this funding crisis.” The irony is that members of Congress and top administration officials are continuing to be paid amid the funding gap.