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15m ago

White House Orders Agencies to Draft Layoff Plans as Shutdown Threatens

The OMB move pressures Senate Democrats over their refusal to back a short-term funding bill without health-care protections.

FILE—Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, hold a news conference on the GOP reconciliation bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Capitol Police officers adjust security barriers around the East Plaza at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. With just days to go before federal money runs out with the end of the fiscal year on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Congress has failed to pass legislation to keep the government running after becoming deadlocked during votes late last week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
US President Donald Trump points to attendees after delivering remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on September 23, 2025. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., holds a news conference at the Capitol, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Washington.

Overview

  • An OMB memo directs agencies to prepare reduction‑in‑force plans for programs where discretionary funding lapses on Oct. 1, no alternative funding exists, and the work is not aligned with the president’s priorities.
  • The guidance departs from traditional shutdown furloughs by instructing agencies to consider issuing RIF notices in addition to any furloughs and to submit layoff plans to OMB.
  • The White House frames the directive as avoidable if Democrats support a Republican 'clean' continuing resolution, saying it hopes they will not trigger a shutdown.
  • Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries denounced the memo as intimidation, with Schumer saying the firings would likely be reversed in court or undone later.
  • An OMB official said core operations such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, military activities, law enforcement, ICE, CBP, and air traffic control would continue, as the Senate returns Sept. 29 with an Oct. 1 deadline approaching.