OMB tells agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans beyond traditional furloughs

The White House’s budget office has sent a memo to federal agencies telling them to prepare for mass layoffs in case Congress fails to pass a spending bill and the government shuts down on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know about the administration’s shutdown preparations:

The budget office directive

OMB orders agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans:

• Memo from Office of Management and Budget raises stakes for Democrats, putting federal employees’ livelihoods at risk if they don’t support Republican measures to keep government open
• In memo, sent late Wednesday, White House told agencies to put together “reduction in force” plans, signaling administration is planning to go beyond traditional furloughing of federal employees and fire them
• “With respect to those Federal programs whose funding would lapse and which are otherwise unfunded such programs are no longer statutorily required to be carried out,” the memo said
• “RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation”

The firing rationale

Administration plans to use funding gaps as reason for permanent job cuts:

• By shutting those programs, White House would then use lack of funding as reason to fire those federal employees
• “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of the shutdown, and we must continue planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government,” memo said
• Memo also said agencies would be directed to consider reduction-in-force notices for all employees in programs whose discretionary funding will lapse Wednesday
• Targets programs that lack available alternative funding sources and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities”

The congressional standoff

Both parties locked in dispute over government funding:

• Both parties are in standoff over government funding, which will expire at end of day on Tuesday
• Republican-controlled House passed short-term bill to keep government funded through Nov. 21
• However, Senate, which requires 60 votes to approve measure, rejected both GOP and Democratic proposals to keep government open
• Shutdown deadline creates pressure for resolution

The Democratic pushback

Party leaders condemn OMB director’s approach:

• Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, pushed back at OMB Director Russell T. Vought
• “This is an attempt at intimidation. Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare,” Schumer said in statement
• “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government. These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back”
• Schumer noted administration hired workers back “just like they did as recently as [Wednesday]”

The heated rhetoric

House Democratic leader issues sharp personal attack:

• Jeffries, on X, wrote: “Listen Russ, you are a malignant political hack. We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost.”
• Response reflects escalating tensions over shutdown threat and job security concerns
• Personal nature of attack suggests high stakes for federal workforce
• Democratic leadership framing issue as political intimidation rather than budget necessity

Read more:

• White House tells agencies to prepare for mass layoffs, firings if shutdown looms