President Trump on Tuesday braced federal workers for mass layoffs if the government shuts down.
“We may do a lot,” Mr. Trump said, when asked how many workers could lose their jobs.
Mr. Trump blamed the firings on congressional Democrats, accusing them of making outrageous demands to keep the government open.
“That’s only because of the Democrats,” Mr. Trump said.
Congressional Democrats are demanding the short-term spending bill undo the One Big Beautiful Bill’s provisions that bar illegal immigrants and some able-bodied adults from Medicaid.
They also demand a continuation of Obamacare subsidies that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and are set to expire at the end of this year.
SEE ALSO: Government shutdown looms as Democrats demand health care provisions in funding bill
“They want to be able to take care of people that come into our county illegally and no system can handle that and so we’re totally opposed to that,” Mr. Trump said. “We just can’t do it.”
“It’s like they don’t change. They lost an election in a landslide and they don’t change,” Mr. Trump said.
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget last week sent a memo to federal agencies telling them to put together “reduction in force” plans, signaling that the administration is planning to go beyond the traditional furloughing of federal employees and firing them.
Both parties are deadlocked over government funding and their leaders seem to acknowledge a shutdown is coming.
The government will shutdown at end of day at midnight Tuesday, when current funding levels expire.
The Republican-controlled House passed a short-term bill to keep the government funded through Nov. 21. But the Senate, which requires 60 votes to approve the measure, rejected both the GOP and Democratic proposals to keep the government open.
The Senate will vote again Tuesday on funding proposals, but is expected to fall short of passing them.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.