Shutdown Roundup: NNSA Furloughs, Interior Layoffs, RIF Ruling Expanded, Pay Legislation

Federal workers and the American people are looking toward Capitol Hill and the White House for any progress toward ending the government shutdown. And so far, there is little to report with the shutdown now hitting 21 days, making it the second longest in U.S. history. And the clock is ticking with President Trump scheduled to leave Sunday for a trip through Asia.

The impact on the federal workforce continues to mount. 

NNSA Furloughs

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) furloughed 1,400 employees Monday after running out of funds to pay them. 

“We’ve never furloughed workers in the NNSA. This should not happen. But this was as long as we could stretch the funding for the federal workers,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. 

About 400 NNSA staff will remain working to “to support the protection of property and the safety of human life.”

Interior Layoffs 

The Interior Department plans to cut more than 2,000 jobs. Officials say the reductions in force (RIFs) are not related to the ongoing government shutdown but just happened to coincide with it. 

The planned cuts include 770 jobs at Interior headquarters, 474 at the Bureau of Land Management, and 335 employees in the U.S. Geological Survey. 

RIF Restraining Order

Meanwhile, Federal Judge Susan Illston expanded the temporary restraining order barring reductions in force (RIFs) during the shutdown. The order will now cover employees represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE). 

Previously, only members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County And Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the initial plaintiffs in the lawsuit, were explicitly shielded from reductions in force during the shutdown.

The administration says most of the 4,000 initial cuts announced during the shutdown are not blocked by the court order because their agency no longer has an obligation to bargain with the unions.

However, Judge Illston disagreed. 

“If an individual person is an employee of the defendant agencies and is a member of a plaintiff union … they can’t be RIFed,” said Judge Illston. 

Federal Pay Update

Meanwhile federal civilian employees will go without a paycheck until the shutdown is resolved. Military members however are getting paid, with the administration using any funds left over for the current fiscal year to bankroll paychecks for active-duty servicemembers. 

Members of Congress, while happy that military members are getting paid, are unhappy with the White House exercising additional authority over the federal spending process. The law requires the president to seek approval from Congress before moving around money. 

“While it’s a desired outcome, there’s a process that’s required — by Constitution and by law — for Congress to be not only consulted but engaged,” said Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). 

And the issue isn’t going away. According to two White House officials, President Trump will continue to use funding for military paychecks during the shutdown.