The White House is taking significant steps to prepare for a potential government shutdown next week, instructing federal agencies to consider large-scale firings of workers. This directive comes amidst a contentious partisan dispute over federal spending plans, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats who accuse former President Donald Trump of employing intimidation tactics.
In a memo released on Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) advised federal agencies to plan for a reduction in force for programs whose funding is set to lapse next week. The memo states that these programs may be "not otherwise funded" and "not consistent with the president's priorities." This approach marks a significant shift from previous government shutdowns, where non-essential federal workers were typically furloughed but returned to their roles once Congress approved a new financial plan.
The prospect of mass firings could lead to substantial disruptions within a federal workforce that has already experienced considerable cuts this year. This includes the controversial actions from Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge) during the early phase of Trump’s second administration. Should a government shutdown occur, the OMB's memo instructs agencies to revise their reduction in force plans to retain the minimum number of employees necessary for essential functions.
This directive from the OMB heightens the stakes in the ongoing budget negotiations, placing additional pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York. The two have successfully maintained unity among their party members against a clean funding bill supported by President Biden and congressional Republicans, which aims to keep the federal government operational for an additional seven weeks. They demand immediate improvements in health care in exchange for their votes on the short-term funding plan, known as a continuing resolution (CR).
In response to the OMB memo, Jeffries took to social media, asserting, “We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings.” He labeled Russ Vought, the head of OMB, as a “malignant political hack.” Schumer echoed these sentiments, characterizing the OMB memo as an “attempt at intimidation” and predicting that any unnecessary firings would either face legal challenges or result in the rehiring of affected employees.
The memo emphasizes the importance of preemptive preparations for a government shutdown, stating, “It has never been more important for the administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one.” Additionally, it highlights that the GOP’s signature law—a comprehensive tax and anti-immigration spending package—provides sufficient resources to ensure that many core Trump Administration priorities can continue without interruption.
As the potential shutdown looms, hundreds of federal employees dismissed during Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures are being invited back to work. The General Services Administration (GSA) has instructed these employees, who managed government workspaces, to make a decision by the end of the week. Those who accept the offer must report to work on October 6, effectively ending what has amounted to a seven-month paid leave.
Chad Becker, a former GSA real estate official, noted, “Ultimately, the outcome was the agency was left broken and understaffed. They didn’t have the people they needed to carry out basic functions.” This situation underscores the critical challenges facing federal agencies as they navigate the complexities of budgetary negotiations and workforce management amid political strife.
