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.
It’s not clear which specific agencies, subdivisions, or geographic regions were being targeted.
Read more at TheHill.com.
