The Interior Department is eyeing staff layoffs, although its plan is being partially hampered by a recent court order.
The department said in a Friday court filing that it would have carried out at least some layoffs “imminently” if not for a recent court order blocking agencies from laying off union workers during the shutdown.
However, it also indicated it may still move forward with layoffs of employees who work in areas that are not represented by the unions.
The department said these layoffs are not related to the government shutdown and that they are part of a broader plan to cut positions it has been working on since early this year.
“It has become clear that RIF notices, if finalized on a timeline consistent with the preexisting planning process, might be issued during the lapse in appropriations for competitive areas that do not include any bargaining units or members represented by Plaintiffs,” the department said in court, referring to reductions in force.
In court, the Interior Department also said it “had intended on imminently abolishing positions” in 68 "competitive areas” that included union workers.
Now, it “will not proceed with any RIFs” involving union staff unless the court’s temporary halt to the firings is lifted.
The White House Office of Management and Budget, which has been spearheading federal efforts to lay off employees, defines a "competitive area” as those in which employees may compete for positions, such as geographic area agency subdivision.
It’s not clear which specific agencies, subdivisions, or geographic regions were being targeted. The Interior Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration has taken on several efforts to fire workers or offer them buyouts in order to shrink the size of the government. They argue that the government is bloated and this will make it more efficient, but opponents argue that such efforts will take away important work being done to serve the American people.
Source: The Hill - News
