Many lawmakers are working to head off a painful shutdown come next week when the federal government is scheduled to run out of allotted funds. The White House, meanwhile, is taking what some observers see as an extraordinary step to capitalize on a potential disruption of federal services. In a memo shared with multiple agencies on Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget instructed agency heads to prepare plans for permanent mass layoffs of certain employees should the government shut down on Oct. 1.

‘Attempt at intimidation’

Agency heads are “directed to use this opportunity to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees” involved in programs that will run out of funds, do not have alternate funding avenues, and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities

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