Key Takeaways
- Jobs Secured: More than 3,600 federal employees who received layoff notices during the recent government shutdown have had those notices officially rescinded.
- Congressional Action: The job-saving measure was part of the continuing resolution Congress passed to reopen the government, which explicitly nullified any Reduction in Force (RIF) notices issued since October 1.
- Formal Reversal: The Justice Department confirmed in federal court filings that all 3,605 affected workers have been formally notified that their RIFs are canceled.
- Lingering Questions: Uncertainty remains for 299 positions at the Department of Education, as the administration argues their layoff notices predate the period covered by the new legislation.
Federal Layoff Notices Reversed Post-Shutdown
In a significant reversal, over 3,600 federal employees who were facing job losses have received official notice that their positions are secure. The move comes after a record-breaking government shutdown that saw 3,605 workers receive Reduction in Force (RIF) notices. As of last week, nearly all of those layoff notices have been formally withdrawn.
The relief for these employees came directly from the legislation passed by Congress to end the shutdown. The continuing resolution included specific provisions stating that any RIF notice issued by an agency on or after October 1 “shall have no force or effect.” Furthermore, the bill prevents federal agencies from using funds to conduct any new RIFs for the duration of the resolution.
Justice Department Confirms Cancellations
The Trump administration confirmed the mass reversal in court filings. Attorneys for the Justice Department submitted documents to a federal court in San Francisco, stating that agencies have complied with the congressional directive. These filings were part of a lawsuit brought by unions to halt the layoffs, which the administration now argues is moot due to the new law.
The planned layoffs were widespread across various government agencies. Agency-by-agency data showed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had issued over 1,300 RIF notices, while the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had issued 54. Following the new legislation, each of these agencies has contacted the affected employees to withdraw the notices.
Uncertainty for Department of Education Staff
While the news is positive for the vast majority, a cloud of uncertainty remains for 299 employees in the Department of Education’s civil rights division. Although these workers were notified of their RIFs on October 14, the government contends that the initial notices were issued in March 2025.
Because of this earlier date, the administration argues these specific layoffs are not covered by the continuing resolution’s protections. A declaration from the department’s chief human capital officer stated that while the separations are currently paused due to a preliminary court injunction, they believe this group is separate from those affected by the shutdown. The ultimate fate of these positions will likely require further clarification from the court.
Image Referance: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2025/11/more-than-3600-feds-get-notice-their-shutdown-rifs-are-rescinded/