"Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images Top Democrats unloaded on the White House for turning up the pressure in Washington's funding standoff, instructing agencies to prepare for mass layoffs if Congress fails to pass a spending bill by Oct. 1. In a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), seen by Politico and published in full by Puck, the administration signaled it is prepared to go further than the usual furloughs seen in past shutdowns."
"RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation, the document states, using the government's term for a reduction in force. The directive also warned that programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, casting blame on Democrats for risking job losses. Democratic congressional leaders responded by accusing the White House of weaponizing federal employment to pressure the opposition."
"House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries went further, directly attacking OMB director Russell Vought as a malignant political hack. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer protested that the tactics were nothing new and warned any firings would be challenged in court. This is an attempt at intimidation, he said. Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one not to govern, but to scare."
An OMB memo directed federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force (RIF) notices and warned of mass layoffs if Congress fails to pass a spending bill by Oct. 1. The memo said RIF notices would supplement furloughs during a lapse in appropriations and singled out programs without mandatory appropriations as most vulnerable. Democratic leaders accused the administration of weaponizing federal employment to pressure opponents and promised legal challenges. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attacked OMB director Russell Vought personally. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the tactic intimidation and predicted firings would be overturned or workers rehired.
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