On October 1, 2023, the federal government of the United States imploded. This was due to Congress’s failure to agree on a continuing resolution or other appropriations language to fund ongoing federal activities. The shutdown has real and immediate consequences. It is one of the most consequential impacts on the federal workforce, leaving as many as 750,000 employees facing confusion over their job security and pay.
As we previously noted, the Trump administration had indicated its intention to use the subsequent shutdown as an excuse to start layoffs. This strategy has been a long-time favorite of Russell Vought, the former head of the Office of Management and Budget. Labor unions and congressional Democrats have rebuked the administration’s handling in no uncertain terms. This backlash has led to furious legal challenges to these proposed layoffs.
On October 2, former President Donald Trump teed up that meeting with Vought on Truth Social. This action made it harder for the administration to change course. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the national AFL-CIO have already sued. They went to federal court in Northern California to seek a temporary order halting the planned layoffs throughout the shutdown.
“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,” – AFGE president Everett Kelley
During the shutdown, unions have argued that furloughed workers should receive back pay immediately when the government does reopen. This hard-fought right is a protected federal law. From the beginning, the Trump administration has threatened to cut this aid. This action increases the risk that angry federal workers, already worried for their jobs, may lash out violently.
As of now, Republican lawmakers are blaming Democrats as the principal actors behind government’s upcoming shutdown. They accuse Democrats of dragging their feet on the administration’s sweeping spending plan. So far, the Democrats have declined to accept the Republican offer to reopen the government. They say it punts on a number of key pieces, such as the expiring tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for millions of Americans. These tax credits are incredibly important for seniors and the low-income folks that make up most Medicaid beneficiaries.
“They held off for 10 days,” – Republican Senator John Thune
Senator Thune further commented on the situation, saying, “At some point they were going to have to make some of these decisions and prioritise where they’re going to spend money when the government is shut down.” His comments are a sign of increasing anger from Republicans. They think Democratic lawmakers are missing the urgency.
Workers have been vocal about their frustration over being trapped in a partisan war.
“Federal workers are tired of being used as pawns for the political and personal gains of the elected and un-elected leaders,” – AFGE president Everett Kelley
The impact of this shutdown goes beyond the 50,000 jobs it’ll directly eliminate. It jeopardizes critical services Americans depend on all over the country. As negotiations become more contentious, the reauthorization of many core federal programs remains uncertain.