WASHINGTON — President Trump threatened “irreversible” actions Tuesday if congressional Democrats force a partial government shutdown at midnight.
“We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like,” Trump told reporters Tuesday afternoon in the Oval Office, referring to Democrats.
“You all know [White House budget director] Russell Vought, he’s become very popular recently because he can trim the budget to a level that you couldn’t do any other way. So they’re taking a risk by having a shutdown,” he went on.
“[In a shutdown,] we can do things medically and other ways, including benefits, we can cut large numbers of people that we don’t want to do that but we don’t want fraud, waste and abuse.”
The White House Office of Management and Budget, led by Vought, last week instructed federal agencies to prepare to permanently dismiss employees in non-essential roles if there’s a shutdown.
The threatened reductions in force (RIFs) did not sway Senate Democrats, who are trying to use the government funding impasse to extend pandemic-era enhanced subsidies for about 22 million people who purchased private insurance through Obamacare exchanges.
Congressional Democrats also have sought to revive funding for foreign aid and to radio and TV programs that was until this year federally subsidized.
The Office of Personnel Management’s guidance to federal workers says that mass-firings would not result in loss of income due to a required notice period of 60 days.
“Any RIF notice issued shortly before or after the lapse in appropriations that commences on October 1, 2025, will generally provide for a full 60-day notice period during which employees will retain employment status,” the OPM said.
