The White House directed federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings if US Congress fails to avert a government shutdown next week. The memo, issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), instructed agencies to draft “reduction in force" plans for programmes whose funding will expire if lawmakers do not reach a deal before the 30 September deadline.

“We remain hopeful that Democrats in Congress will not trigger a shutdown and the steps outlined above will not be necessary," the memo said. The note warned that permanent layoffs could occur in programmes and projects that lack alternative funding sources and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities."

The warning came a day after US President Donald Trump refused to meet with Democratic leaders, who are pressing for

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