• The White House has directed agencies to prepare plans for mass federal worker layoffs amid a potential government shutdown.
• The memo specifies layoffs for programs deemed "not consistent with the President’s priorities."
• Senate Democrats have criticized the memo as an intimidation tactic, arguing it primarily affects non-essential workers.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a memo instructing federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs ahead of a potential government shutdown next week. This directive marks a more aggressive stance than past shutdowns, where furloughs were common. The memo emphasizes that agencies must identify programs where discretionary funding will lapse on October 1 if Congress fails to approve a funding plan, indicating a significant escalation of government conflict as the deadline approaches, according to CBS News, India Times, and Reuters.

The OMB memo signals that federal workers in programs lacking alternative funding and which do not align with President Trump's priorities could face permanent layoffs. This move intensifies the disruption within a federal workforce already burdened by significant cuts initiated earlier this year, according to BBC, HuffPost, and TRT Global.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded sharply to the memo, describing it as a tactic of intimidation. Jeffries emphasized that they would not be intimidated by threats of mass firings, while Schumer labeled the memo an attempt to scare federal workers and suggested that any firings would ultimately be challenged legally or reversed, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and CBS News report.

As the political standoff continues, the memo highlights the Trump administration's objective to reduce the federal workforce size, a push that has been ongoing since his inauguration. The OMB indicates that the consequences of a shutdown could also serve as leverage in negotiations as they criticize congressional Democrats for opposing the proposed clean funding bill amidst their demands for healthcare funding improvements, according to HuffPost and Reuters.