By — Liz Landers Liz Landers Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-the-full-memo-directing-federal-agencies-to-weigh-mass-layoffs-if-the-government-shuts-down Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Read the full memo directing federal agencies to weigh mass layoffs if the government shuts down Politics Sep 25, 2025 12:02 PM EDT The Office of Management and Budget has directed federal agencies to consider mass layoffs in the event of a government shutdown, with negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in peril. A letter sent Wednesday indicates that the Trump administration is giving agencies leeway to launch more mass firings through the reduction-in-force mechanism used by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in slashing the federal workforce. Read the full notice by clicking the image below. “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, and we must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government,” reads the memo, which was emailed to agency leadership and general counsels. WATCH: Schumer says Trump ‘totally derelict’ for scrapping negotiations to avoid shutdown RIF notices would be “in addition to” furlough notices, so people could be permanently let go from agencies, not just temporarily furloughed. The government will run out of funding at the end of the day on Sept. 30 unless Congress and the president can agree on a short-term funding deal. Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leadership earlier this week, saying talks would not be “productive” and chastising their “unserious and ridiculous demands.” Democrats sought to reverse Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to Medicaid and other health programs and add $350 billion over 10 years in Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a shutdown deal. WATCH: Stopgap measures to avoid government shutdown fail in Senate The notice sent to agencies, obtained by PBS News, blames Democrats for inching toward a shutdown “over a series of insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Trump “derelict” in an interview Wednesday with PBS News Hour co-anchor Geoff Bennett. “When I was majority leader … we never had a shutdown because I sat down with the Republican leader and we came to an agreement. This president is just — he’s not up to being president if he can’t sit down and negotiate with the two Democratic leaders,” he said. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Liz Landers Liz Landers Liz Landers is a correspondent for PBS News Hour, where she covers the White House and the Trump administration. Prior to joining the News Hour, she served as the national security correspondent for Scripps News, and also reported on disinformation for the network.
The Office of Management and Budget has directed federal agencies to consider mass layoffs in the event of a government shutdown, with negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in peril. A letter sent Wednesday indicates that the Trump administration is giving agencies leeway to launch more mass firings through the reduction-in-force mechanism used by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in slashing the federal workforce. Read the full notice by clicking the image below. “Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, and we must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government,” reads the memo, which was emailed to agency leadership and general counsels. WATCH: Schumer says Trump ‘totally derelict’ for scrapping negotiations to avoid shutdown RIF notices would be “in addition to” furlough notices, so people could be permanently let go from agencies, not just temporarily furloughed. The government will run out of funding at the end of the day on Sept. 30 unless Congress and the president can agree on a short-term funding deal. Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leadership earlier this week, saying talks would not be “productive” and chastising their “unserious and ridiculous demands.” Democrats sought to reverse Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to Medicaid and other health programs and add $350 billion over 10 years in Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of a shutdown deal. WATCH: Stopgap measures to avoid government shutdown fail in Senate The notice sent to agencies, obtained by PBS News, blames Democrats for inching toward a shutdown “over a series of insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Trump “derelict” in an interview Wednesday with PBS News Hour co-anchor Geoff Bennett. “When I was majority leader … we never had a shutdown because I sat down with the Republican leader and we came to an agreement. This president is just — he’s not up to being president if he can’t sit down and negotiate with the two Democratic leaders,” he said. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now