White House Budget Office Warns of Mass Firings if Government Shutdown Occurs

The White House Budget Office is issuing a stark warning as the September 30 funding deadline approaches: mass firings could take place if Congress fails to prevent a government shutdown.

In a memo to federal agencies, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) outlined instructions for how to handle a potential lapse in appropriations. The directive specifically calls on agencies to identify programs that are not legally required to continue operating and prepare to end them if funding runs out.

This represents a sharp departure from past government shutdown protocols, which often sought to minimize disruptions to federal employees and services. The move highlights the escalating standoff between the administration and congressional Democrats over budget priorities.

Under the guidance, agencies must assess which operations can continue under law and which would face immediate suspension, a process that could leave thousands of federal workers vulnerable to sudden unemployment.

With the deadline less than a week away, negotiations on Capitol Hill remain tense, and the Budget Office’s warning underscores just how high the stakes have become for both federal employees and the American public.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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