WASHINGTON – The White House has issued directives to various departments and agencies, indicating that significant layoffs and other negative impacts may start once the shutdown begins on Wednesday.
Notes shared with state newsrooms by officials suggest that programs funded under the “big and beautiful” laws will continue without interruption.
However, most federal sectors require Congress to pass the Annual Finance Act or Suspension Expenditure Bill before the new fiscal year begins to maintain operations.
The memo also mentions that employees overseeing these programs might face mandatory notifications if contracts aren’t resolved by the October 1 deadline.
These notifications would target programs and projects deemed “not in line with the president’s priorities,” according to the memo.
It adds, “RIF notifications will accompany the Furlough notifications due to expenditure lapses.” Every employee working on the relevant program, regardless of their employment status during the funding lapse, must receive these notifications.
Once a deal is reached and the government is back in operation, the memo states that plans should be revised to ensure that the minimum number of employees are retained for essential functions.
Employee Unions Call for Compromise
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the memo as “an attempt to intimidate.” He criticized the administration for consistently laying off federal workers and accused Trump of being fearful instead of effectively governing. “This isn’t something new and has nothing to do with government funding,” Schumer stated.
President Everett Kelly of the United States Federation of Governments commented that the White House Budget Director seems to be provoking mass layoffs in a reckless manner.
“The reality is straightforward: Republicans can’t fund the government without Democratic votes. Compromise is the only way forward,” Kelly emphasized. “The president and Congressional leaders need to negotiate sincerely to avoid disrupting services for the American people. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen argued that Trump’s threats will ultimately harm citizens and lamented a focus on cutting civil service jobs. “These crucial workers have no part in the political conflicts driving us toward a shutdown,” he noted.
House GOP Will Be Absent Until October 1
House Republicans had mostly voted along party lines last week, approving a seven-week stopgap spending bill before leaving Congress. They decided to extend their break until the shutdown deadline, refraining from returning to negotiations.
This delay is seen as a strategic move to undermine Senate Democrats in discussions they’ve largely opposed, particularly since the funding bill was crafted without bipartisan input.
The Senate’s attempts to advance the House bill were unsuccessful, as it lacked the necessary 60 votes for passage.
Democrats have consistently argued that if Republicans sought support for short-term funding, they should have engaged in negotiations over vital issues such as the extension of tax credits for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson believes this is a discussion for December rather than this month, despite the registration period ending on December 15.
Senate Majority Leader John Tune has reiterated that this issue is separate from government funding.
Jeffries Opens the Door for Talks
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed willingness for a dialogue, stating, “We are ready and able to discuss potential bipartisan spending agreements to meet Americans’ needs.”
He criticized Republicans for intentionally avoiding negotiations, which he called an unreasonable stance. Jeffries pointed out that with unified control of the government, Republicans have failed to reduce costs for Americans, particularly healthcare.
“Donald Trump claimed he would lower costs immediately, yet expenses keep rising,” Jeffries added. “Under his policies, everyday life has become more expensive, including skyrocketing healthcare premiums.”
He concluded by suggesting it’s odd for Democrats to trust Republicans, given their record on healthcare.
