Login to Continue Learning
The White House is asking federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings if the government partially shuts down next week. This latest development marks another clash between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over federal spending, following about 300,000 workers who have left the government this year.
According to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget, programs that did not receive mandatory funding will be most affected by a shutdown. “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” the memo stated.
Federal workers traditionally get paid after temporary furloughs while Congress resolves funding disputes. However, with no solution in sight and a partial shutdown looming on October 1, the Office of Management and Budget outlined this harsher approach.
In another development, House Republicans approved legislation Sept. 19 that aimed to extend current funding until Nov. 21, giving lawmakers more time to approve full fiscal year funding. Senate Democrats have blocked approval of the bill in the chamber where a 60-vote majority is needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats seek to reverse looming cuts to Medicaid and lapsing Obamacare subsidies.
Related Post
Any additional layoffs would come on top of about 300,000 federal workers who have already left their jobs this year from a workforce of 2.4 million members. About 154,000 workers accepted buyouts and are slated to leave the government payroll Sept. 30.
Democratic leaders − Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York – sought last week to meet with Trump but he declined on Sept. 23, calling their demands unrealistic. “This is an attempt at intimidation,” Schumer said in a statement. “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since Day One – not to govern, but to scare.”
Jeffries told Virginians, who are voting for governor in November and where many federal workers live, to remember what Trump is doing. “Donald Trump and MAGA extremists are plotting mass firings of federal workers starting October 1,” Jeffries said in a social media post Sept. 24.
The OMB memo characterized the Democratic demands as “insane” and “partisan.” It argued that federal programs not otherwise required by statute would no longer be necessary with the lapse in spending legislation. The memo said agencies should “use this opportunity to consider” reductions in the workforce for discretionary, funded or non-priority programs.
The White House calls Democratic spending demands ‘insane’ and ‘partisan’. “As such, it has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one,” the memo said. “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown.”
Contributing: Reuters
