TL/DR –
The White House budget office has instructed federal agencies to formulate plans for mass job cuts in the event of a government shutdown, primarily targeting programs they are not legally required to maintain. This follows a standoff between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats over federal funding. The directive, noted in an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo, directs agencies to identify programs that will lose funding if Congress fails to meet the September 30 funding deadline and lack alternative funding sources – these programs would then face sweeping job reductions.
White House Prepares for Shutdown-Induced Mass Firings
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directs federal agencies to plan for mass layoffsdue to a potential government shutdown, targeted at non-mandatory programs. This new approach breaks with past shutdown protocols, heightening the partisan fight over federal funding.
OMB’s memo instructs agencies to target programs lacking alternative funding if Congress doesn’t meet the September 30 funding deadline. Jobs deemed “not consistent” with the Trump administration priorities face potential elimination. The office, however, hopes the outlined steps won’t be necessary should Democrats avoid triggering a shutdown.
Leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffriesdenounced this move. The proposed mass firings, Schumer claims, aim to incite fear rather than facilitate governance.
The potential job losses may escalate the funding standoff, as Democrats demand various concessions in return for keeping the government open beyond September. They push especially for the extension ofenhanced federal subsidies for Obamacare, expiring at year’s end.
But the White House and Republicans refuse these demands, advocating for a “clean” extension. An OMB memo supports this stance, promising to fund “core Trump Administration priorities” even in a shutdown.
Shrinking Federal Workforce
This move continues Trump’s effort to reduce the federal workforce. In February, an executive order called for plans formassive layoffs. The results varied, with some agencies trimming significant staff portions, others reversing some layoffs, and some even rehiring previous employees.
Further plans for mass layoffs were hinted at in another OMB memo in February concerning the executive order.
The OMB hasn’t postedshutdown contingency plans yet, despite the looming deadline. The memo states it has received updated lapse plans from several agencies, which identify essential functions and workers during a shutdown.
Critics argue that using a shutdown to decimate federal workforce would harm the nation. Bobby Kogan, former Biden-era OMB official, describes it as self-inflicted damage and extortion.
Additional information has been added to this story.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
—
Read More US Political News