Shutdown Latest: Law Enforcement Groups Call for Deal, Broader Layoffs May Be Imminent
Federal workers are in the midst of the first government shutdown since 2019, and as of now, there’s no indication that either Republicans or Democrats are willing to end the stalemate.
On Wednesday, the Senate again rejected proposals for a short-term stopgap, as Democrats insist that any deal includes an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans insist that now is not the time to talk about an extension.
Congress is also on recess now for the Yom Kippur holiday.
Law Enforcement On the Job
For federal law enforcement, the shutdown means continuing to perform essential work without pay, while some support staff are furloughed.
“We are on duty today. We’ll be on duty tomorrow. But no public servant should be forced to bear the financial burdens caused by the current political gridlock while they are working to keep our nation safe,” said Mathew Silverman, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), in a news release calling for Congress to end the shutdown.
Trump Administration Says Layoffs Coming Soon
Meanwhile, the White House is doubling down on its threat to lay off federal employees, indicating that layoffs may be imminent.
“If this thing drags on for another few days or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off,” said Vice President JD Vance to reporters at the White House press briefing. “We’re going to have to save money in some places so the essential services don’t get turned off in other places.”
And Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans Wednesday that the mass reduction in layoffs will occur “in a day or two” and will go after programs that do not align with President Trump’s priorities. President Trump also wrote that he will be meeting with Director Vought on Thursday to discuss potential cuts.
So far, agencies furloughed about 550,000 employees, with that number expected to rise.
Federal employee unions meanwhile are challenging the threat of mass layoffs. The American Federal of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee (AFSCME) sued. They say OMB’s goal to use a lapse in appropriations as grounds for eliminating programs and jobs is a “legally unsupportable” position.