White House directs agencies to prep for mass firings ahead of potential shutdown

The White House budget office indicated Wednesday that mass firings could be on the table in the event of a government shutdown as Congress faces a stalemate on negotiations in the days leading up to the government funding deadline.

A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reviewed by The Hill indicates agencies are directed to “use this opportunity to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities” under three conditions.

The conditions include discretionary funding lapses Oct. 1, if another source of funding isn’t available and if the programs, projects, or activities are not “consistent with the president’s priorities.” In order to consider firing, all conditions must be met.

Politico first reported on the memo.

Agencies were also directed to revise RIFs once a shutdown ends to retain the “minimal number” of employees needed to function, according to the memo, and a plan must be submitted to the OMB.

The memo essentially directs agencies to permanently fire some federal employees that otherwise would be furloughed during a shutdown but then return to work once Congress reopens the government.

With Tuesday’s shutdown fast approaching, negotiations are showing few signs of progress. Republicans are refusing to pivot from their calls for a seven-week “clean” stopgap package. Democrats are calling for protecting Affordable Care Act subsidies, which President Trump has knocked.

A meeting between Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has effectively been canceled due to the stalemate.

The OMB memo criticizes congressional Democrats for “signaling that they intend to break this bipartisan trend and shut down the government in the coming days over a series of insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending.”

“The Administration supports Senate passage of H.R. 5371, but congressional Democrats are currently blocking this clean CR due to their partisan demands,” the memo said. “As such, it has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one.”