The Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is announcing around 180 temporary layoffs within a couple of state agencies due to the federal government shutdown. DAS spokesperson Caleb Hunter says the layoffs impact approximately 69 employees at Iowa Workforce Development and 111 employees at the Department of Public Defense.

“A portion of the layoffs took effect (Thursday) and the remaining portion will take effect in two weeks,” Hunter said. The temporary layoffs impact employee members of U-E Local 893 Iowa United Professionals (UE/IUP), employee members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal (AFSCME) and non-contract employees.

Earlier this week, Iowa National Guard officials announced nearly half of their employees have been furloughed due to the government shutdown. The Guard has around 2,200 employees, and a little over 1,000 full-time employees are now without incomes.

AFSCME  Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan issued the following statement regarding the layoffs:
“The consequences of these layoffs are appalling. At Iowa Workforce Development these layoffs will result in only three people being left to respond to work place fatalities and injuries for our entire state. Work places will be less safe, which will result in more dangerous accidents on the job. Job assistance for veterans is also being heavily impacted by these layoffs. Workforce Development employees working in information technology and labor market information are also being laid off and will face financial hardship. At the Iowa Department of Public Defense, hardworking maintenance workers, custodial workers, and others are receiving layoff notices. These laid-off state workers, along with a thousand furloughed federal employees of the Iowa National Guard, are facing severe financial stress on their families.”

Homan went on to criticize Congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham — both Republicans — for their roles in the government shutdown.