The White House has instructed its agencies to get ready for significant job cuts should Congress fail to prevent a government shutdown next week. This directive comes from a memo obtained by US media outlets, highlighting the growing concern over the budget deadline.
The Office of Budget and Management has asked federal agencies to draft plans for “reduction in force” for programs that will lose funding if a budget agreement isn’t reached by the September 30th deadline.
This warning follows President Trump’s decision to cancel a meeting with Democratic leaders who were aiming to include healthcare funding in the budget negotiations.
The memo indicates a hope that Democrats will avoid triggering a shutdown, which would make these necessary, but potentially drastic, measures avoidable.
Specifically, the budget office’s memo mentions that permanent firings could affect federal programs and activities that lack alternative funding and do not align with the President’s stated priorities.
Most federal government agencies depend on annual funding approved by Congress. This process involves agencies submitting requests, Congress passing the legislation, and the president signing it into law for the new fiscal year.
A government shutdown occurs when no agreement is reached by October 1st, leading to the cessation of all non-essential government functions.
Recently, House Republicans, with the support of one Democrat, passed a temporary funding bill to keep the government operational until November 20th. However, Senate Democrats blocked this measure.
In response, Democrats put forward their own proposal to reinstate healthcare funding. This move comes after a significant policy change in July, which resulted in substantial cuts to Medicaid, a vital healthcare program for millions of low-income and disabled Americans.
On Tuesday, President Trump announced the cancellation of a meeting with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, citing their demands as “unserious and ridiculous.”
Trump stated on social media, “I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
Following the leak of the draft firings memo, Democrats criticized the White House, accusing them of employing intimidation tactics.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer commented, “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare. This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government.”
It’s noted that President Trump has already implemented cost-cutting measures that have led to the dismissal of thousands of federal employees through the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).