As a partial government shutdown looms, over 100,000 federal employees face formal resignation amid preparations by the Trump administration. The federal government is set to enter a partial shutdown if no agreement is reached by midnight on Tuesday. According to the New York Post, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing federal agencies to reduce staff in “non-essential roles” during a shutdown. OMB Director Russ Vought emphasized the administration’s readiness to confront a shutdown orchestrated by Democrats, citing the need to mitigate political consequences.
Agencies are required to submit workforce reduction plans to the OMB for approval, with cuts scheduled to take effect 60 days after implementation—likely after any shutdown concludes. The longest federal shutdown, lasting 35 days in late 2018 and early 2019, ended when President Trump declared a national emergency to redirect defense funds. The memo underscores the administration’s strategy to maximize political pressure on Democrats during the shutdown crisis.
Democratic leaders have criticized the move as an attempt to intimidate, leveraging the standoff to demand healthcare concessions from Trump. The Guardian reported the resignation program would cost $14.8 billion, with 200,000 workers receiving full pay and benefits while on administrative leave. However, administration officials claim the plan will reduce long-term federal spending.
Reuters highlighted the potential impact of a partial shutdown, while the Guardian noted the White House asserted there would be “no additional cost to the government” as employees would have received salaries regardless. The program, described as the largest workforce reduction in history, aims to save $28 billion annually. Over 275,000 federal employees are expected to leave through delayed resignations, voluntary separations, attrition, and early retirement programs. Thousands more have been terminated under reduction-in-force mandates, marking the largest single-year decline in civilian federal employment since World War II.
Federal workers accepting deferred resignation offers have requested anonymity to safeguard future career prospects.
