Agencies Told to Draft Mass Firing Plans as Shutdown Looms, Report Says

The White House budget office is reportedly directing federal agencies to draw up plans for extensive workforce reductions, or mass firings, in the event of a U.S. government shutdown, as reported by Politico.

According to reliable sources, the Office of Management and Budget is expected to distribute a memo to federal agencies, asking them to prepare to permanently reduce their respective workforces in the event of a shutdown. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.

With the deadline for funding on September 30 quickly approaching, Washington is bracing for the possibility of a federal government shutdown due to the prevailing partisan deadlock that hampers efforts to extend funding.

Reports indicate that House Republicans have advanced a bill aimed at keeping the government operational until November 21. However, the Senate has blocked the measure, citing its failure to include Democratic priorities, such as funding for health care programs, according to The Washington Post.

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The significance becomes clear when we consider the Democrats’ counter-proposal to extend operations until October 31, restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid support. This proposition was dismissed by Republicans, and a vote was prevented in the Senate, as reported by the Post.

This development follows earlier reports that President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders, accusing them of inflexibility. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded by asserting that Republicans bear full responsibility for finding a solution to the impasse due to their control of the House, Senate, and White House, Politico reports.

Meanwhile, federal agencies are preparing for the potential fallout of a shutdown. The U.S. judiciary has warned that it may not be able to sustain full operations beyond October 3 if funding lapses, which could result in furloughs for court staff even though judges’ salaries are constitutionally protected.

The evidence suggests that with no deal in sight and the legislative calendar narrowing, the chances of a partial government shutdown are increasing by the day, according to The Washington Post.