White House budget office tells agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of potential shutdown

"The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week. In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget said agencies should consider a reduction in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse next week, is not otherwise funded and is "not consistent with the President's priorities.""

"A reduction in force would not only lay off employees but eliminate their positions, which would trigger yet another massive upheaval in a federal workforce that has already faced major rounds of cuts this year due to efforts from the Department of Government Efficiency and elsewhere in the Trump administration. Once any potential government shutdown ends, agencies are asked to revise their reduction in force plans "as needed to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions,""

The Office of Management and Budget directed agencies to prepare reductions in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse and are not aligned with presidential priorities. Reductions in force would eliminate positions rather than temporarily furlough employees, amplifying prior workforce cuts implemented this year. Agencies must revise plans after any shutdown to retain the minimal employees necessary to carry out statutory functions. The directive raises the stakes of a potential shutdown and increases political pressure on Democratic leaders who remain largely united against a short-term clean funding bill while seeking immediate policy changes.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles