White House raises specter of mass firings if government shuts down

The White House is threatening to use a potential short-term spending lapse to make long-term changes to the federal workforce.

Why it matters: Thousands of government employees could permanently lose their jobs if Congress doesn't reach an agreement to fund the government by Oct. 1. • "It has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one," Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote to agencies and departments Wednesday evening. • Vought is instructing agencies to send "Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees" in programs that are "not consistent with the president's priorities," according to the memo.

Yes, but: Vought is also indicating that programs that received money in