WASHINGTON – The White House is asking federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings if the government partially shuts down next week, the latest clash in the high-stakes confrontation between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats.

Federal workers have been paid traditionally after temporary furloughs while Congress resolves funding disputes. But with no solution in sight and a partial shutdown looming Oct. 1, the Office of Management and Budget outlined this harsher approach.

"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the memo said.

House Republicans approved legislation Sept. 19 that aimed to extend current funding until Nov. 21. The goal was to give lawmakers more time to approve funding legislation for the full fiscal year.

But Senate Democrats have blocked approval of the bill in the chamber where a 60-vote majority is needed to overcome a filibuster, and Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Democrats seek to reverse looming cuts to Medicaid and lapsing Obamacare subsidies that Republicans say would add $1 trillion to spending over a decade.

Democrats accuse Trump of plotting 'mass firings'

Any additional layoffs would come on top of about 300,000 federal workers leaving their jobs already this year from the 2.4 million member workforce. About 154,000 workers accepted a buyout and are slated to leave the government payroll Sept. 30, and others were laid off Trump dismantled federal agencies.

The congressional Democratic leaders − Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York − sought last week to meet with Trump but he declined Sept. 23, calling their demands unrealistic.

"This is an attempt at intimidation," Schumer said in a statement. "Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since Day One - not to govern, but to scare."

Jeffries told Virginians, who are voting for governor in November and where many federal workers live, to remember what Trump is doing.

"Donald Trump and MAGA extremists are plotting mass firings of federal workers starting October 1," Jeffries said in a social media post Sept. 24. "Their goal is to ruin your life and punish hardworking families already struggling with Trump Tariffs and inflation."

White House calls Democratic spending demands 'insane'

The OMB memo characterized the Democratic demands as “insane” and “partisan.”

“As such, it has never been more important for the Administration to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one,” the memo said. "Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown, and we must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government."

The memo argued that federal programs that aren't otherwise required by statute would no longer be required with the lapse in spending legislation. The memo said agencies should "use this opportunity to consider" reductions in the workforce for programs that are discretionary, have another source of funding or that are "not consisistent with the President's priorities."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump White House prepares for layoffs in looming government shutdown

Reporting by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect