WHITE HOUSE TELLS US AGENCIES TO PREPARE FOR MASS SACK OF WORKERS
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The White House has instructed U. S. federal agencies to brace for additional mass layoffs amid a potential government shutdown anticipated next week, as reported in a memo initially disclosed by the U. S. news source Politico.
The communication from the Office of Management and Budget suggested that President Donald Trump’s administration would exceed the customary approach of temporary furloughs observed during prior shutdowns.
Dispatched to U. S. media on Wednesday, it directed federal agencies to focus on programs that they are not legally mandated to sustain.
“Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” the memo stated, mandating agencies to present their proposed workforce reduction strategies and inform employees.
This directive emerges as the Trump administration engages in conflict with congressional Democrats regarding federal funding ahead of the fiscal deadline at midnight on September 30.
Senate Democrats rejected a provisional funding bill last week, which was hastily approved by the Republican-led House of Representatives in an attempt to prevent a shutdown.
In response, Trump canceled a meeting on Tuesday with Democratic leaders in Congress, asserting that he would not convene with them until they became “realistic” with their requests in funding discussions.
With both legislative chambers on recess this week and senators scheduled to return on Monday, the window of opportunity is narrowing to maintain government funding beyond the conclusion of the fiscal year.
A shutdown would result in a cessation of non-essential operations and leave hundreds of thousands of civil servants temporarily without compensation.
Republicans maintain a slim majority in both houses of Congress; however, due to Senate regulations, they must secure some support from the opposition.
House Republicans cautioned on Friday that their members would not reconvene before the funding deadline, compelling the Senate to either vote anew and accept their proposal or confront a shutdown.
Nevertheless, the bill, if approved, would merely serve as a temporary solution for funding federal agencies until November 21.
Congress last encountered a shutdown in March, when Republicans declined to engage in discussions with Democrats regarding Trump’s substantial budget reductions and the dismissal of thousands of federal employees.
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