White House lays groundwork for mass government firings if there's a shutdown
NBC2 days
White House Directs Agencies to Prepare Mass Firings Plans as Shutdown Looms
Above: U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought speaks in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 3, 2025. Image copyright: Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump's mass firing scheme is pure intimidation designed to scare federal workers rather than govern effectively. Republicans are pushing the country toward a shutdown by refusing to negotiate on spending while threatening permanent job losses. This reckless strategy will backfire through court challenges and force the administration to inefficiently rehire workers they fired.
Republican narrative
This is a win-win for the Republican Party and U.S. President Donald Trump. Either Democrats will eventually cave on the shutdown, or they will maintain their outrageous demands to force U.S. taxpayers to fund free healthcare for illegal aliens and transgender surgeries for minors, get blamed for the shutdown and allow the Trump administration to fire unnecessary Deep State bureaucrats.
Metaculus Prediction
Political split
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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.16.0