WASHINGTON

White House budget director Russell Vought said Friday that layoffs of federal workers "have begun" as the US government shutdown continues.

"The RIFs have begun," Vought said on US social media company X, using the acronym for "Reductions in Force."

The federal government remains shut for 10 days after the US Senate on Thursday again failed to advance funding bills to end the shutdown for the seventh time.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing more than 800,000 federal and DC government employees, announced that a lawsuit had been filed.

Condemning the Trump administration’s decision to "illegally" fire thousands of federal employees during the shutdown, AFGE National President Everett Kelley called on Congress to end it without further delay.

Kelly said in a statement that it is "disgraceful" that the Trump administration has used the shutdown "as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country."

"AFGE is currently challenging President Trump’s illegal, unprecedented, abuse of power and we will not stop fighting until every reduction-in-force notice is rescinded," Kelly added.

Both Republicans and Democrats continue to accuse each other of obstructing progress on reopening the government.

While a government shutdown does not automatically result in a full-blown economic crisis, it creates major disruptions for many aspects of American life, also adding to uncertainty around the state of the world's biggest economy.

Many federal employees have been furloughed, or forced to work without pay, while others will be placed on mandatory leave until a new budget is approved. Each federal agency has its own shutdown plan, determining which government employees are essential.

In previous shutdowns, employees were furloughed, not fired, and no government programs were ended. Democrats say such moves are likely illegal.