The budget office at the White House indicated on Wednesday that mass shootings could become a concern if a government shutdown occurs, highlighting ongoing negotiations that are stalling ahead of the funding deadline.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) obtained by Hill suggests that under specific circumstances, agencies are encouraged to consider reducing their employee numbers. This could include layoffs for programs or projects that don’t align with the president’s priorities and lack alternative funding after October 1.
According to the memo, three conditions must be met for layoffs to be considered: discretionary funding must lapse, no other funding sources should be available, and the program must not be consistent with presidential priorities. It’s a rather cautious approach, but I guess it makes sense to cover all bases.
Reportedly, agents will need to adjust their layoff plans and file them with the OMB once the shutdown wraps up, ensuring that just enough employees remain for critical operations.
This memo seems to imply that federal employees may face permanent layoffs during the shutdown, only to potentially return if Congress resolves the funding issue later.
As the September 30 deadline approaches, discussions have been moving slowly, with Republicans pushing for a straightforward seven-week funding extension, while Democrats are advocating to protect affordable care law subsidies targeted by the administration.
A planned meeting between President Trump and Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries was essentially scrapped due to conflicting requests.
The OMB memo urged Congressional Democrats to reconsider their stance, arguing that the proposed demands—which include significant new spending—could jeopardize the government’s stability.
The administration expressed support for a specific Senate bill but noted that Congressional Democrats are hindering its progress due to their partisan demands. It appears that preparing for a shutdown is becoming increasingly necessary, should the situation not improve.
