Agencies told to prepare reduction-in-force plans in case of shutdown
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans in the event of a government shutdown next week. according to a memo obtained by Punchbowl News, these plans go beyond the usual furloughs and include permanently cutting programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) that lose discretionary funding after October 1 without alternative funding and that do not align with the governance’s priorities. The memo places significant blame on congressional democrats, accusing them of pushing for a shutdown through demands for $1 trillion in new spending.
OMB Director Russell Vought is leading the effort, which aims to use the shutdown as a chance to further reduce the size of the government. while critical government functions like Social Security,Medicare,military operations,law enforcement,and air traffic control are expected to continue,many other programs could be eliminated. Democrats, including house Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the plans as political intimidation and unnecessary firings that would likely be reversed or undone.
President Trump has urged Democrats to avoid a shutdown by agreeing to a clean continuing resolution, emphasizing that the “ball is in your court,” while Democrats have responded with readiness to negotiate.The White House has not provided additional comment.
Federal agencies told to prepare reduction-in-force plans if government shuts down
The White House budget office is urging federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans if the government shuts down next week.
An Office of Management and Budget memo obtained by Punchbowl News on Wednesday detailed the administration’s personnel plans for a shutdown, which go beyond the standard furloughs.
The memo asks agencies to find programs, projects, and activities, or PPAs, for which discretionary funding will lapse on Oct. 1, no alternative funding source is available, and the cuts are not consistent with “the president’s priorities.” These cuts would be part of the standard reduction-in-force plans.
These PPAs would be permanently eliminated, turning the government shutdown into an opportunity for the Trump administration to further slim down the government. The OMB says programs “that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown.”
The memo largely blames Democrats for any possible shutdown. Both parties have been at a standoff concerning how to fund the government. President Donald Trump recently refused a meeting with Democratic leaders, citing their alleged “unserious and ridiculous demands.”
“Unfortunately, congressional Democrats are signaling that they intend to break this bipartisan trend and shut down the government in the coming days over a series of insane demands, including $1 trillion in new spending,” the memo says.
“We remain hopeful that Democrats in Congress will not trigger a shutdown, and the steps outlined
above will not be necessary. The President supports enactment of a clean CR to ensure no discretionary spending lapse after September 30, 2025, and OMB hopes the Democrats will agree,” the memo concludes.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ripped OMB Director Russell Vought over the plans, calling him a “malignant political hack,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said of the plans, “This is an attempt at intimidation. Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one—not to govern, but to scare.”
“These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today,” Schumer added.
Vought spearheaded the administration’s initial government cuts.
An anonymous OMB official told Politico that programs like Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, military operations, law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and air traffic control will continue regardless of the shutdown.
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Trump issued a statement Wednesday calling for the government to remain open and telling Democrats that the ball “is in your court,” to which Schumer and Jeffries both responded on X, “We’re realistic about what the country needs so we’re ready. When and where?”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response.
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