White House prepares for federal layoffs amid government shutdown

The White House is set to announce in the coming days which federal agencies will face staff reductions as a result of the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown. 

The list, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, could be released as early as October 3, 4, or 5, according to unnamed White House sources cited by CNN.

“We could announce the RIFS (Reductions in Force) tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday,” the official said.

President Donald Trump previously warned that the shutdown could lead to layoffs of federal employees and cuts to projects supported by the Democratic Party.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote again on October 3 on a bill aimed at temporarily extending government funding and ending the shutdown that began on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Joe Thune told reporters that if the bill fails, Democrats would have the weekend to reconsider, with another vote planned for Monday.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised Republicans for refusing to discuss the contentious issues in the bill. “We want to have a bipartisan discussion, use common sense to reopen the government, pass a spending agreement that makes life better for the American people, particularly as it relates to their high cost of living,” Jeffries said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, echoed the party’s stance, saying there is “nothing to negotiate” with Democrats at this time.

“People say, ‘Why aren’t you negotiating with [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer [D-N.Y.] and Jeffries?’ Because I quite literally have nothing to negotiate,” he said.

The outcome of the Senate vote will determine whether the shutdown continues into the weekend, potentially affecting thousands of federal employees.

By Vugar Khalilov