A government shutdown would be a gift to the administration: Yesterday, the Trump administration told government agencies they should consider who to lay off in the event of the federal government shutting down on September 30. But this isn't just standard furloughing, where employees will necessarily be rehired whenever the shutdown lifts: President Donald Trump has asked agencies to look at more permanent reductions in force, using this as an opportunity for agencies to ask themselves which services are truly essential and whether their activities are aligned with the administration's broader policy agenda.
If a budget deal can't be reached by the end-of-month deadline, contingency plans are being made: "The White House Office of Management and Budget called on Congress to adopt a short-term measure that would preserve existing funding levels into November," reports The New York Times. "Such a move would buy time for Democrats and Republicans to negotiate a longer-term agreement, which would fund the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year."
You're not alone in thinking this feels the tiniest bit reminiscent of the Department of Government Efficiency, which fell far short of both its goals and potential. But it is still refreshing for the White House to be sending memos asking agencies to consider whether they have "the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out" essential functions, and whether those functions are in keeping with the purpose for which the agency was designed.
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