The deadline for U.S. government funding is closing in quickly. In retaliation, President Donald Trump has called off a pivotal White House meeting with Democratic Congressional leaders, increasing fears over an impending government shutdown. It seems that the White House is not kidding around here. It’s getting real. Now it’s pushing federal agencies to prepare for mass firings if Congress fails to come to terms on a deal before the funding runs out on September 30.
In September, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo urging agencies to obligate funding that is set to expire on October 1. They ought to be sending out “reduction-in-force” notices to their staff. This directive specifically targets agencies that lack alternative funding sources and are “not consistent with Donald Trump’s priorities.” The memo provides an urgent reminder of the stakes involved as lawmakers continue to race towards a negotiated deal.
The current U.S. government funding expires late Tuesday night. For both issues, lawmakers are still a long way from reaching an agreement. That’s because the House just passed a continuing resolution, or stopgap spending measure, that would keep the government running at current levels until November 21. Senate Democrats shot down the bill. Specifically, Democrats are insisting that any legislation must extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits. These essential credits are scheduled to go away at the end of this year.
Democrats have openly criticized the OMB memo, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarking, “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one — not to govern, but to scare.” This sentiment speaks to their hearts with regard to their worries about how mass firings will affect the lives of federal employees and their dependents.
In response to the threat posed by the OMB, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries stated, “Listen Russ, you are a malignant political hack. We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings.” Jeffries further emphasized the detrimental effects of Trump’s policies on American families, adding, “Their goal is to ruin your life and punish hardworking families already struggling with Trump Tariffs and inflation.”
The threat of a government shutdown is now more real than ever. It’s a scenario that’s déjà vu to the last full shutdown in 2013, when nearly 850,000 federal workers were furloughed. As negotiations drag on, the price of inaction mounts, making a resolution more urgent than ever.
The current standstill underscores the deep chasm between GOP and Democratic priorities. The reality is that both parties are losing badly on their misplaced priorities and bad strategy. With just days remaining before funding is to run out, Congressional leadership—both Republican and Democrat—come under intense pressure to act. Now they need to come together to avoid a shutdown that would severely affect our federal workforce and services.