White House Plans Mass Federal Layoffs If Government Shuts Down

The White House, under President Trump, has issued a directive for federal agencies to prepare for permanent layoffs—referred to as "reduction in force" (RIF)—if a government shutdown occurs on October 1, marking a significant departure from prior shutdown protocols where furloughs were temporary. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Russell Vought, instructed agencies to identify programs that lack alternative funding and do not align with the president's priorities, targeting those programs for potential permanent job cuts while sparing others like border security and national defense. This action comes amid a partisan deadlock in Congress, with House Republicans passing a short-term funding bill but the Senate, requiring 60 votes, facing Democratic demands for measures including Affordable Care Act subsidy extensions. Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have condemned the memo as intimidation and criticized President Trump's refusal to negotiate, which contributed to the impasse. The White House supports the House bill and warns that layoffs can be avoided only if Democrats agree to it, escalating pressure in the funding standoff. The memo signals a strategic move by the Trump administration to leverage the shutdown threat to reshape federal workforce priorities and further its budget agenda.