NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
A Senate Democrat ripped President Donald Trump for a not too long ago launched memo that detailed mass firings within the occasion of a shutdown, and accused the president of partaking in “mafia-style blackmail.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., railed in opposition to the Workplace of Administration and Finances’s (OMB) memo despatched to federal businesses this week that outlined a plan to cut back staff throughout the federal government past these which are sometimes furloughed.
Whereas the Home handed a short-term funding extension final week, Senate Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the invoice. The deadline to fund the federal government is Sept. 30, and thus far, no progress has been made to achieve an settlement to maintain the lights on.
Van Hollen charged that Trump “is engaged in mafia-style blackmail, together with his threats in the end harming the American individuals,” and likened the OMB’s memo to actions taken by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Division of Authorities Effectivity earlier this 12 months that led to tens of 1000’s of federal staff being both fired or incentivized to retire or take a buyout.
WHITE HOUSE TELLS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PREPARE LAYOFF PLANS AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., accused President Donald Trump of “mafia-style blackmail” for the Workplace of Administration and Finances’s directive for mass firings past the norm within the occasion of a authorities shutdown. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photographs)
“He’s threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw — going after patriotic civil servants that present Individuals with essential providers — regardless of having to rehire many of those staff after Individuals skilled the detrimental impression of these cuts,” he mentioned.
“These devoted staff don’t have anything to do with the continued political and coverage disputes which have introduced us to the brink of a shutdown,” Van Hollen continued. “These threats will not be solely an assault on Individuals’ providers and advantages, they’re additionally seemingly unlawful. We’ll be combating again with each software we now have.”
Van Hollen’s ire comes because the Trump administration is gearing up for mass firings past the usual furloughs in a authorities shutdown.
TRUMP CANCELS MEETING WITH SCHUMER, JEFFRIES OVER ‘RIDICULOUS DEMANDS’ AS FUNDING DEADLINE LOOMS
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a gathering with Polish President Karol Nawrocki within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photograph/Evan Vucci)
The OMB’s memo, obtained by Fox Information Digital, directed that within the occasion lawmakers can’t cross a funding extension, or persevering with decision (CR) by the deadline, businesses ought to “use this chance to think about Discount in Pressure (RIF) notices for all staff” in applications that don’t have any different obtainable funding supply and that don’t comport with Trump’s priorities.
“RIF notices can be along with any furlough notices offered as a result of lapse in appropriation,” the memo learn, and can be issued “no matter whether or not the worker is excepted or furloughed throughout the lapse in appropriations.”
TRUMP-APPROVED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SCUTTLED BY SENATE
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer’s assembly on the White Home this week was canceled. (Reuters)
Lawmakers are set to return to Washington on Monday, only a day earlier than the deadline to fund the federal government. Senate Democrats blocked the GOP’s CR final week, and demanded a seat on the desk to barter with congressional Republican leaders and Trump.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Nonetheless, Republicans have pushed again in opposition to Democrats’ counter-proposal as unserious, and are unwilling to budge on a laundry checklist of things tossed into their CR, which included completely extending expiring Reasonably priced Care Act subsidies, repealing the healthcare part of Trump’s “huge, lovely invoice,” and clawing again canceled funding for NPR and PBS.
A gathering between Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Trump was set for Thursday, however the president canceled, and accused Democrats of “ridiculous” calls for of their counteroffer to the GOP’s plan.
