WASHINGTON — Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told House Republicans on Wednesday, the first day of the government shutdown, that the Trump administration will start firing federal employees in the next “one to two” days, according to two GOP sources on the conference call.
Vought, who issued a memo last week threatening mass firings in the federal workforce in the event of a shutdown, did not outline specifics to Republicans about those plans and argued the layoffs would not be happening if it weren’t for Democrats.
Moments later, in the White House briefing room, Vice President JD Vance confirmed layoffs would happen shortly unless the government reopens.
“We are going to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues. We don’t like that. We don’t necessarily want to do it,” Vance told reporters. “But we’re going to do what we have to keep the American people’s essential services continuing to run.”
We’d like to hear from you about how you’re experiencing the government shutdown, whether you’re a federal employee who can’t work right now or someone who is feeling the effects of shuttered services in your everyday life. Please contact us at tips@nbcuni.com or reach out to us here.
But Vance denied that the Trump administration would target federal workers for layoffs based on their politics.
“We’re not targeting federal agencies based on politics,” Vance said. “We’re targeting the people’s government so that as much as possible of the essential services can continue to function.”
Vought’s memo said agencies would be directed to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects or activities whose funding dried up beginning on Oct. 1 due to the shutdown and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”
The memo did not say how many federal employees might lose their jobs.
During the Wednesday afternoon virtual call, Vought also warned that the Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program is set to run out of money by next week if the government doesn’t open. The National WIC Association, which represents members on the state and local level, confirmed that timeline to NBC News, saying funding could dry up in a week or two.
Other topics that came up on the call included military pay, which will be on hold along with other federal employees’ pay during the shutdown, and national parks, which will remain partially open.
Asked about the administration’s threats to fire federal workers, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said they would have laid people off regardless of a shutdown, arguing it is Republican “ideology” to cause pain.
“So all this talk that we see right now, as if it has anything to do with the shutdown that Republicans have caused — no, it’s their ideology,” Jeffries told reporters. “Cruelty is the point when it comes to the Republican Party.”
Vought’s conversation with House Republicans came shortly after the Senate, for the second time in 24 hours, voted down dueling Democratic and Republican proposals to fund the government. At least 60 votes are needed to advance any funding bill in the Senate, meaning a vote must be bipartisan to succeed, given the Republicans’ 53-47 majority.
Funding expired at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday after the two parties failed to reach a deal on a stopgap funding bill to keep the government’s lights on past the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.
Aria Bendix , Sarah Dean and Rebecca Shabad contributed.
