Washington — Democratic leaders in Congress on Thursday dismissed the White Home’s latest risk {that a} authorities shutdown might spur large-scale layoffs of the federal workforce as “intimidation,” standing agency of their place forward of the Oct. 1 funding deadline.
The White Home’s Workplace of Administration and Price range despatched a memo to federal companies on Wednesday telling them to think about reduction-in-force notices, or layoffs, for workers in applications, initiatives or actions that acquired discretionary funding. The RIF notices would come along with any furlough notices directing federal employees to remain dwelling from work with out pay if Congress fails to increase authorities funding by the deadline.
Democrats in Congress framed the transfer as an intimidation tactic by the White Home and OMB Director Russ Vought, and stated they intend to barrel forward with their push to safe wins on key well being care priorities in alternate for protecting the federal government funded.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries of New York speaks to reporters on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer shared an identical sentiment in an announcement on Wednesday, calling the memo “an attempt at intimidation.”
“Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare,” Schumer stated. “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government.”
Democrats have repeatedly pushed for negotiations within the funding combat, trying to extract a extra favorable consequence utilizing one among their solely factors of leverage with Republican majorities within the Home and Senate. Earlier this month, Democrats launched a counteroffer to a GOP-led invoice to maintain the federal government funded that will additionally lengthen expiring medical health insurance subsidies.
The Home authorized a Republican measure to increase funding for seven weeks. Each the GOP invoice and the Democrats’ proposal fell brief within the Senate, resulting in the present stalemate.
After the Home authorized its invoice, GOP leaders prolonged the decrease chamber’s break previous the Oct. 1 deadline to fund the federal government, placing strain on the Senate to approve their proposal. However Jeffries stated on Thursday that the Home-passed persevering with decision is “dead on arrival” within the Senate. He stated it’s “unclear” to him why Home Republicans have left D.C. and have “decided they don’t even want to have a conversation with Democrats to reach a bipartisan agreement.”
“Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency,” Jeffries stated. “If the government shuts down, it’s because they want the government to shut down.”
Jeffries and Schumer had additionally pushed for a gathering with President Trump earlier this week. However Mr. Trump canceled the assembly, citing the Democrats’ calls for, saying “no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
On Thursday, Jeffries stated “the Democratic position is clear: we will meet and sit down anytime, any place with anyone, including the president, who canceled the meeting because the Republicans have determined that they want to shut down the government and hurt the American people.”
Aaron Navarro
contributed to this report.
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