A fresh threat from US President Donald Trump’s budget office of mass firings of federal workers if the government shuts down October 1 incensed Democratic leaders and ramped up the political and economic stakes if lawmakers and the White House cannot reach a deal.
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A memo sent Wednesday night from the White House Office of Management and Budget directs agencies to plan to permanently lay off federal workers in programmes that do not align with Trump’s priorities if the deadline to pass funding lapses.
Democratic leaders pushed back against the White House, saying they would not back down in the face of the administration’s hardball tactic and it swiftly stoked partisan tensions in the capital.
The threat also worsened the potential disruption to the economy with an already weakening labour market since a shutdown now could trigger permanent lay-offs of government workers instead of temporary furloughs.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, whose state is home to many federal workers, denounced Trump for “mafia-style blackmail, with his threats ultimately harming the American people”.
The move came after Trump scrapped plans to meet with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of whom said they would not be intimidated.