White House announces federal worker layoffs as shutdown nears third week

"The White House announced layoffs of federal workers on Friday, making good on a threat it had made in response to the US government shutdown, which now appears set to stretch into a third straight week. Russell Vought, the director of the White House office of management and budget, wrote on social media that RIFs have begun, referring to the government's reduction-in-force procedure to let employees go."

"While Vought provided no details on the departments and agencies at which the layoffs were taking place, a treasury spokesperson said notices had been distributed within the department. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Guardian that layoffs would also happen at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. And a union representing federal workers confirmed that members at the Department of Education would also be affected by the reduction in force."

"Union leaders warned 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 Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country, said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 federal and DC government workers."

The White House initiated reduction-in-force procedures, beginning layoffs of federal workers as the US government shutdown extends into a third week. Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought announced that RIFs have begun but did not specify affected agencies. Treasury confirmed internal notices were distributed. The Department of Homeland Security said layoffs would affect the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and a union reported Department of Education members would be impacted. Union leaders warned of devastating effects on services relied upon by millions and pledged legal challenges. Senate Republican leaders had earlier signaled layoffs would occur if funding was not restored.

Read at www.theguardian.com