The budget office at the White House suggested on Wednesday that widespread job terminations might be considered if a government shutdown occurs, given the current impasse in Congress over funding negotiations as the deadline looms.
A document from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as seen by The Hill, instructs agencies to “take this moment to evaluate issuing reduction in force (RIF) notices” for all workers involved in programs, projects, or activities under three specific conditions.
The specified conditions are lapses in discretionary funding by Oct. 1, absence of alternative funding sources, and if the programs, projects, or activities do not align with the president’s objectives. Only if all these criteria are met should terminations be contemplated.
Politico first reported on the memo.
Furthermore, agencies were advised to update RIF plans after a shutdown concludes to maintain only the essential employees needed for operation, according to the memo, and they must submit a plan to OMB.
The memo essentially instructs agencies to lay off certain federal employees permanently who would otherwise face temporary furloughs during a shutdown but would return to their jobs once government funding is reinstated.
With just days remaining until the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline, negotiations seem to be stalled. Republicans persist in advocating for a seven-week “clean” stopgap deal, while Democrats focus on safeguarding Affordable Care Act subsidies, a position criticized by President Trump.
A meeting between the Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has effectively been cancelled over the dueling demands.
The OMB memo crticizes congressional Democrats for “signaling that they intend to break this bipartisan trend and shut down the government in the coming days over a series of insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending.”
“The Administration supports Senate passage of H.R. 5371, but congressional Democrats are currently blocking this clean CR due to their partisan demands,” the memo said. “As such, it has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one.”
