White House Directs Agencies to Plan for Layoffs If Government Shuts Down

‘If Congress successfully passes a clean CR prior to September 30,’ this will not be necessary, the OMB said.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 25, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

The White House budget office has sent a memo directing federal agencies to consider preparing “Reduction in Force” (RIF) notices for a portion of their employees in the event of a government shutdown, as the Sept. 30 funding deadline nears without a clear path forward for congressional funding.

The GOP’s continuing resolution (CR), bill H.R. 5371, which the House passed 217-212 last week with support from one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), seeks to extend current federal funding levels through to Nov. 21.