The White House has directed federal agencies to prepare mass layoff plans ahead of a potential government shutdown, as Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to pass a funding bill, according to Politico. A Sept. 23 memo from the Office of Management and Budget obtained by Politico instructs agencies to update their “lapse plans” and prepare for possible workforce cuts and furloughs if funding expires. Agencies were told to identify programs that meet three criteria: 

Discretionary funding expires Oct. 1. No other source of funding, such as H.R.1, is available. The program is not consistent with President Donald Trump’s priorities. 

“[Reduction in force] notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation,” according to the memo. “RIF notices s

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