White House Plans Mass Federal Layoffs If Shutdown Occurs

President Donald Trump's administration, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has issued a directive for federal agencies to prepare for permanent layoffs if a government shutdown occurs, escalating tensions with Senate Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the move as intimidation tactics meant to pressure Democrats into accepting a short-term funding bill passed by the House, which Democrats oppose unless it includes healthcare concessions. Some centrist and retiring Senate Democrats express concern about the Supreme Court's conservative majority potentially upholding the layoffs, leading to internal divisions within the Democratic caucus about how firmly to oppose the funding bill. Democrats emphasize that the layoffs have "nothing to do with funding the government" but rather serve as a political weapon, with assurances that courts may overturn such firings or that workers would eventually be rehired. The White House memo targeted federal employees working on programs without mandatory funding or not aligned with President Trump's priorities, while excluding essential services like Social Security and military operations from layoffs. Despite the threat of mass firings, Democratic leaders insist they will not be intimidated and continue to push for legislative concessions on health care alongside funding extensions to avoid a shutdown.