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Washington, D.C. — Federal workers are questioning a Sept. 24 memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directing agencies to “consider” mass Reduction in Force (RIF) plans if the government shuts down. Workers call it a pressure tactic meant to intimidate Congress and accelerate an assault on public services and to force Congress into passing a poison-pill budget. This is a threat to do what has already happened.
Key Points:
Not New Policy: The Feb. 11 and Feb. 26 “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” orders already required RIF planning. The Sept. 24 memo just recycles those threats.
Fear Tactic: By framing layoffs as “shutdown planning,” OMB is trying to pressure Congress into a bad budget deal.
Lockout, Not Shutdown: Workers want to serve — but the administration is dismantling agencies and public services to advance an extremist, unpopular agenda.
Voices from the Frontlines:
“The Sept. 24 OMB memo directing agencies to “consider” Reduction in Force (RIF) plans during a potential shutdown is political theater, not new policy. It is designed to intimidate Congress into voting for Trump’s bad budget. The Trump Administration has been dismantling critical programs while the government is funded, they have shown they will take a wrecking ball to our services, regardless of funding.” — James Kirwan is a federal worker, a labor lawyer, and an organizer with the Federal Unionist Network
“Agencies were already ordered to plan mass firings months ago. This memo is intimidation dressed up as policy. We should not pass this poison-pill budget under the threat of a shutdown. We are urging Congress to reject any budget that locks out workers or cuts critical services, restore congressional control over appropriations, and protect frontline staff from retaliation.” — Charlotte Slaiman is a federal worker, an antitrust lawyer, and an organizer with the Federal Unionist Network:
“We've known for some time that OMB wants massive RIFs. This is not new. What is new is using a shutdown as a threat to pressure Congress to pass a poison-pill budget. But we took an oath to serve the American people, and our veterans, our seniors, and our families deserve better than being used as leverage in a political stunt.” — Monica Gorman, is a federal worker, data analyst, and organizer with the Federal Unionists Network.
Media contacts: media@federalunionists.net
Anna Bakalis 323-770-4477
Shaye Skiff 270-300-4980
ABOUT THE FEDERAL UNIONISTS NETWORK
ABOUT THE FEDERAL UNIONISTS NETWORK
The Federal Unionists Network is a growing movement of federal workers and local union leaders standing up against illegal attacks on civil servants and defending the public services that millions of Americans rely on.
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