White House Directs Agencies to Prepare for Potential Mass Firings Amid Shutdown Threat
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White House Directs Agencies to Prepare for Potential Mass Firings Amid Shutdown Threat

Summary

The White House has instructed federal agencies to plan for significant workforce reductions if a government shutdown occurs, marking a departure from previous practices.

The White House has directed federal agencies to prepare for substantial workforce reductions in the event of a government shutdown next week. In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) advised agencies to consider reductions in force for programs whose funding would lapse and are "not consistent with the President's priorities." This approach represents a significant shift from previous shutdowns, where non-essential federal workers were typically furloughed but reinstated once funding was restored.

The OMB memo emphasizes that programs lacking mandatory appropriations will be most affected, urging agencies to plan accordingly. This directive has intensified the ongoing partisan debate over government funding, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizing the move as an "attempt at intimidation." Schumer predicted that the "unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the directive, stating, "We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost." The memo underscores the administration's stance that preparation for a shutdown is crucial if Democrats choose to pursue one, highlighting that the GOP's major tax and border spending package provides "ample resources to ensure that many core Trump Administration priorities will continue uninterrupted."

As the September 30 funding deadline approaches, the potential for a government shutdown looms, with the administration's directive adding pressure to the ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

Source

The Guardian

First reported

White House Directs Agencies to Prepare for Potential Mass Firings Amid Shutdown Threat

• CNN

Fact-checking

Fact-check the facts of the article using external sources and databases.

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Confirmed

The White House has directed federal agencies to prepare for substantial workforce reductions in the event of a government shutdown next week.

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Confirmed

In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) advised agencies to consider reductions in force for programs whose funding would lapse and are 'not consistent with the President's priorities.'

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Confirmed

This approach represents a significant shift from previous shutdowns, where non-essential federal workers were typically furloughed but reinstated once funding was restored.

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Confirmed

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move as an 'attempt at intimidation.'

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Unverified

Schumer predicted that the 'unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back.'

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Not Confirmed

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the directive, stating, 'We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost.'

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Not Confirmed

The memo underscores the administration's stance that preparation for a shutdown is crucial if Democrats choose to pursue one, highlighting that the GOP's major tax and border spending package provides 'ample resources to ensure that many core Trump Administration priorities will continue uninterrupted.'

✓
Confirmed

As the September 30 funding deadline approaches, the potential for a government shutdown looms, with the administration's directive adding pressure to the ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

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