White House orders agencies to prep for mass firings during a government shutdown

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to prep for permanent mass firings if the government enters a partial shutdown on Oct. 1.

A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) blasted out to agencies on Wednesday evening called for federal agencies to axe employees who work in programs that aren’t legally mandated to continue during a partial shutdown.

“It has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one,” Russ Vought, director of OMB, declared in the memo.

“Once fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted, agencies should revise their RIFs [Reduction in Force] as needed to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions,” he added. “Any proposed RIF plan must be submitted to OMB.”

The memo highlights how the Trump administration is eager to make a partial government shutdown as politically painful for Democrats as possible.

Democratic leaders, who have been trying to leverage the government shutdown fight to extract key concessions from President Trump on healthcare policy, whined that the memo is an attempt at “intimidation.”

“Listen Russ, you are a malignant political hack. We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) snapped on X.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused the administration of planning to go further than necessary to reduce government costs during a partial shutdown.

“This is an attempt at intimidation. Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare,” Schumer complained.

“This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government. These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today.”