Coverage dated September 24, 2025

White House tells agencies to prepare for mass layoffs ahead of a potential government shutdown next week

Headline from CBS News

The Trump administration is raising the stakes as Congress faces a looming deadline to pass a government funding bill.

CBS News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

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Reports & sources

30 articles, oldest first.

CBS News
White House tells agencies to prepare for mass layoffs ahead of a potential government shutdown next week (opens CBS News)
Published Sep 24, 2025
CBS News's feed description
The Trump administration is raising the stakes as Congress faces a looming deadline to pass a government funding bill.
Philadelphia Inquirer
The White House asked federal agencies for mass firing plans ahead of a possible government shutdown (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description
“Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” the Office of Management and Budget said in the memo, which the White House provided.
Breitbart News
Nolte: Trump Plans Mass Firings of Bureaucrats If Dems Shut Down Government (opens Breitbart News)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description
The White House has already instructed federal agencies to plan for mass firings if Democrats shut down the government.
The Columbian
White House budget office tells agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of potential shutdown (opens The Columbian)
Published Sep 24, 2025
The Columbian's feed description
WASHINGTON — The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week.
Forbes
White House Tells Agencies To Prepare For Mass Firings In Event Of Shutdown (opens Forbes)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Forbes's feed description
Democratic leaders have pushed back against the reported memo, saying they will not be intimidated by the threat of mass firings.
Insider
Trump administration signals more mass firings of federal workers if government shuts down (opens Insider)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Insider's feed description
The Trump administration is signaling that a government shutdown on Wednesday could lead to more firings. Democrats say its an intimidation tactic.
WMUR
White House threatens federal worker firings (opens WMUR)
Published Sep 24, 2025
WMUR's feed description
The White House warns of mass firings if a Republican-led spending bill isn't passed by Tuesday, escalating the risk of a government shutdown.
WTOP Washington DC
White House budget office threatens mass firings if government shuts down (opens WTOP Washington DC)
Published Sep 24, 2025
WTOP Washington DC's feed description
The White House budget office is telling federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown, with instructions to target programs they are not legally required to continue.
Roll Call
White House tells agencies to prep mass layoffs for shutdown (opens Roll Call)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Roll Call's feed description
White House budget office to advise program managers to fire employees and eliminate their functions if a partial government shutdown begins.
The Hill
White House directs agencies to prep for mass firings ahead of potential shutdown (opens The Hill)
Published Sep 24, 2025
The Hill's feed description
The White House budget office indicated some workers could be permanently fired — rather than furloughed — in the event of a government shutdown, as Congress faces a stalemate on negotiations.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
White House lays groundwork for mass government firings if there's a shutdown (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
Published Sep 24, 2025
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description
The Office of Management and Budget says in a memo that agencies should prepare reduction-in-force plans to accompany furloughs if a spending bill isn't passed...
New York Post
White House orders agencies to prep for mass firings during a government shutdown — as Dems vow ‘we will not be intimidated’ (opens New York Post)
Published Sep 24, 2025
New York Post's feed description
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to prep for permanent mass firings if the government enters a partial shutdown on Oct. 1.
Fox News
White House tells federal agencies to prepare layoff plans as government shutdown looms (opens Fox News)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Fox News's feed description
The White House budget office directs federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans ahead of a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1.
The Guardian
White House tells agencies to prepare for firings if government shuts down (opens The Guardian)
Published Sep 24, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Democrats accuse Trump of intimidation tactics after memo outlines much more aggressive step than previous shutdowns
The Week
Trump’s plan for a government shutdown: mass firings (opens The Week)
Published Sep 24, 2025
The Week's feed description
As lawmakers scramble to avoid a shutdown, the White House is making plans for widespread layoffs that could lead to a permanent federal downsizing
Washington Examiner
Democrats blast Trump's federal layoff plans ahead of the shutdown (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
Democrats blasted a White House memorandum directing agencies to prepare permanent layoffs if the government shuts down, calling it reckless.
Washington Examiner
Agencies told to prepare reduction-in-force plans in case of shutdown (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Sep 24, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
The White House budget office is urging federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans if the government shuts down next week.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.