quote:

Democrat refusal to pass Senate Continuing Resolution will trigger Trump’s order to DOGE head, Russ Vought @russvought to permanently eliminate jobs when funding lapses.

Government shutdowns have long been political theater, where past administrations treated them as temporary pauses, but Trump’s directive to Vought changes that.

In past shutdowns, employees get a vacation and backpay a few days after a new budget or CR is passed (furlough). This time employees will be fired, eliminating thousands of govt union jobs.

Using Reductions In Force (RIFs), agencies are ordered to cut dead weight, targeting non-essential roles that many argue shouldn’t exist in the first place.

The memo to Vaught states “With respect to those Federal programs whose funding would lapse and which are otherwise unfunded, such programs are no longer statutorily required to be carried out.

“Therefore, consistent with applicable law, including the requirements of 5 C.F.R. part 351, agencies are directed to use this
opportunity to consider (RIF) notices”

Those being let go must meet all three of the following conditions:
(1) discretionary funding lapses on October 1, 2025;
(2) another source of funding, such as H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) is not currently
available
(3) the PPA is not consistent with the President’s priorities.

The memo fires in to state “RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation. RIF notices should be issued to all employees working on the relevant PPA, regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations.”

It further instructs to revise PIFs to maintain a minimal number of employees “necessary to carry out statutory functions. Any proposed RIF plan must be submitted to OMB.”

If agencies can operate without these positions during a lapse, why fund them at all?

https://x.com/T_Q_Gardner/status/1973156336972988673