Federal layoffs day or two away, budget director tells Republicans on shutdown call

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a Wednesday call that layoffs of federal workers will be coming in a day or two, according to sources on the call.

The call came on day one of a government shutdown as Democrats in Congress have rejected a short-term Republican funding plan and are making demands like extending enhanced ObamaCare tax credits. Democrats had forced Vought’s hand, one source said.

Vought hinted at the layoffs in a memo last week — as the government shutdown loomed — that directed agencies to “use this opportunity to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities” that met certain conditions in a shutdown.

That memo was widely seen as an attempt to further pressure Democr