White House Tells Agencies to Prepare for Job Cuts in Shutdown

The White House budget office has instructed federal agencies to prepare for potential job cuts in the event of a government shutdown. This directive comes as Congress and the administration negotiate funding for the next fiscal year, with a possible impasse looming. The budget office has asked agencies to identify "essential" employees who would be required to work without pay during a shutdown, as well as "non-essential" personnel who would be furloughed. This planning is a standard practice ahead of potential shutdowns, but the scale of the preparations suggests the administration is bracing for a prolonged closure. A government shutdown could have significant consequences, including disruptions to federal services, delayed payments, and furloughs for hundreds of thousands of government workers. The White House's instructions to agencies underscore the seriousness of the situation and the need for policymakers to reach a timely resolution to avoid these adverse impacts.