ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Thousands of government workers are now out of a job as the federal shutdown stretches into another week.

More than 460 employees at the U.S. Department of Education have been laid off, according to the Associated Press.

The American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents federal workers, says this includes most of the workers from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which supports millions of children nationwide.

The union said the cuts threaten enforcement of special education laws, civil rights protections and after-school programs.

In a letter to staff, Department of Education officials blamed the ongoing shutdown and called the reductions unavoidable. Around 87% of the department’s workforce is curre

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