Latest from the White House (September 30)

Potential Government Shutdown is Taken to New Levels 

All eyes are on Congress this week as lawmakers face a potential government shut down starting October 1 (see related article). Government shutdowns, depending on how long they last, can be incredibly disruptive and damaging to federal agencies, programs, and workers, not to mention Americans who rely on them. Last week, the White House threatened to impose additional pain on the federal workforce if Congress is unable to agree to a temporary funding measure.

In a recent email to agency heads obtained by Politico, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed agencies to identify federal programs and activities that would “no longer [be] statutorily required to be carried out” if government funding lapses and to consider additional reductions in force (RIFs), or layoffs, for employees in those programs. In other words, the White House has told Congress that if a government shutdown occurs, it will use the opportunity to identify additional federal programs to be terminated and layoff federal workers accordingly.

Under a government shutdown, non-essential federal works are furloughed without pay, but they return to work once the government reopens. This time, the White House has chosen to use the federal workforce, which has already experienced massive layoffs, as its bargaining chip with Congress. Lawmakers have until midnight tonight to avert a shutdown.