Trump Administration Plans Mass Furloughs Ahead Federal Shutdown Deadline

President Donald Trump's administration has outlined plans for a potential federal government shutdown, which is expected to result in furloughs affecting 41% of the U.S. health department workforce, alongside significant pauses in various federal services. Unlike previous shutdowns, the administration has indicated it may use the funding lapse as an opportunity for permanent downsizing, including mass firings of federal employees, with furloughed workers allowed to check layoff notices on government devices. This approach has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers such as Senator Gary Peters, who warned it could cause lasting harm by eliminating expert civil servants and government agencies. Essential benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will continue, while the IRS remains fully operational due to prior funding. The shutdown is tied to Congress's failure to reach an agreement on a stopgap funding bill, with Republican control of both chambers and talks scheduled with President Trump. This shutdown is governed by a 19th-century law that restricts federal operations without approved funding, and the Trump administration's plan notably includes permanent layoffs for positions not aligned with its priorities.