The government shutdown was fast approaching on October 1, with the White House using the threat of more federal workforce firing to put pressure on Democrats.
The Trump administration is preparing for a layoff for government shutdown
The White House is asking federal agencies to prepare plans for mass shootings if the government is partially shut down next week, and the latest clash in the high-stakes conflict between President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrats partially shut down.
WASHINGTON – The stakes of the impending government shutdown have been much higher.
In a memo sent to federal agencies on September 24, President Donald Trump’s White House Office of Management and Budget warned of yet another mass shooting if government funds expire next week.
“Programs that did not benefit from the infusion of mandatory expenditures will bear the brunt of the shutdown,” the notification said.
A few days before the closure, it is expected to start after midnight on October 1st, and a warning from the Trump administration sent a clear message to Democrats. This shutdown is different from others.
Previously, federal workers have been temporarily abandoned until lawmakers reached the deal, reverted government lighting, and later voted for Congress, ensuring employees were paid away. During the last 35-day shutdown in 2018, around 380,000 workers were working without pay while around 380,000 workers were being eaten up (although they were guaranteed to pay it back).
While this time, it may still happen, the OMB memo highlighted Trump’s willingness to use shutdowns as an opportunity to cut down more government jobs and pressure Senate Democrats who need it to ensure that lighting continues.
Fear of further federal workforce reductions – amidst the already painful cuts enacted by Elon Musk’s government efficiency – that Democrats have the advantage in the brink of moments over government spending this year. The executive branch has historically experienced a major shaking in using expenditures during closures. This led to minority leader Chuck Schumer and nine Democrats joining GOP colleagues and voted to keep the government open.
“It’s going to be devastated, like we’ve never seen,” Schumer said in March’s “view.” The White House argued at the time that he “can cut off anything they want by saying that it’s not essential.”
More than six months later, Democrats feel differently.
After facing intense criticism for working with Republicans last time, Schumer and many of his party want to push concessions from Trump, particularly healthcare, using something little leveraged by Democrats in GOP-controlled Washington.
With Musk being kicked out of the administration and Doge’s impact faded, some onlookers predicted in weeks that the White House did not want to finish more jobs. The federal government is already on track to lose around 300,000 workers this year, officials said. After announcing the massive layoffs, many agencies were eventually rehired for positions that were first eliminated.
The OMB memo is nothing more than a scary tactic, Schumer said the day he left.
“This is an attempt to intimidate,” he said in a statement. “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with government funding. These unnecessary dismissals will be overturned by court or the administration will hire workers as they have recently.”
Trump denounced the Democrats when asked in his oval office on September 25th.
“This is all caused by Democrats,” Trump told reporters. “They asked us to do something completely unreasonable. They never change.”
The United States Federation of Government Employees, a leading union for federal workers, urged Republicans and Democrats to come together, rather than scaring hardworking Americans.
“Federal employees are not negotiating tips,” Union National President Everett Kelly said in a statement on September 25th. “They are veterans, caregivers, law enforcement officers and neighbors who serve their country and fellow Americans every day. They deserve stability and respect, not pink slips or political games.”
Are Republicans and Democrats close to dealing?
Despite the threat of White House layoffs, Democrats are still not upset. It doesn’t seem to be the case either.
The GOP lawmakers and the president want to pass the stop measures that provide funding to the government at its current level until just before Thanksgiving. Democrats say it’s a non-starter – unless Republicans extend their expired Obamacare subsidies and reverse recent Medicaid cuts.
Republican leaders are worried about rising health costs for their members and have expressed openness to addressing at least some issues, not when government funds are about to run out.
“I’m happy to have a conversation,” Senate majority leader John Toon told CNN on September 24th. “This is not the time and place to do this.”
House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters this week that verbal commitments from GOP leaders are not enough to satisfy Democrats.
“There’s no trust between House Democrats and House Republicans considering the fact that they consistently tried to undermine the bipartisan agreements they themselves have reached,” he said. “Agreements relating to healthcare protection must dodge iron and be in the law.”
Trump was scheduled to meet Schumer and Jeffries this week, but he cancelled after he determined their requests were “unsafe and ridiculous.” Schumer said Democrats are still open to sitting with the president and negotiating.
Contribution: Reuters
Zachary Schermele is a council reporter for USA Today. You can contact him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @Zachschermele and follow Bluesky at @Zachschermele.bsky.social.
