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Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, criticized President Donald Trump for a recently released memo outlining potential mass firings during a government shutdown, labeling the president’s actions as “mafia-style blackmail.”
Van Hollen denounced the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo sent to federal agencies, which detailed plans for employee reductions that exceed the usual furloughs.
Despite the House’s approval of a temporary funding extension last week, Senate Republicans and Democrats remain divided on the bill. With the government funding deadline approaching on September 30, no consensus has been reached to avert a shutdown.
Van Hollen stated, “Trump is engaged in mafia-style blackmail, with his threats ultimately harming the American people,” comparing the OMB’s memo to actions by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which resulted in significant layoffs and retirements among federal employees earlier this year.
He continued, “He is threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw — targeting patriotic civil servants who provide essential services to Americans — despite the necessity to rehire many of these workers after the negative impacts of those cuts were felt.”
“These dedicated workers have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the brink of a shutdown,” Van Hollen added. “These threats are not only an attack on Americans’ services and benefits, they’re also likely illegal. We’ll be fighting back with every tool we have.”
Van Hollen’s remarks come as the Trump administration prepares for widespread layoffs beyond the standard furloughs in the event of a government shutdown.
The OMB memo, obtained by Fox News Digital, instructed agencies that if lawmakers fail to pass a funding extension or continuing resolution (CR) by the deadline, they should “use this opportunity to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees” in programs lacking alternative funding sources that do not align with Trump’s priorities.
According to the memo, “RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation,” and would be issued “regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations.”
As lawmakers prepare to return to Washington on Monday, just one day before the funding deadline, Senate Democrats previously blocked the GOP’s CR and insisted on participating in negotiations with congressional Republican leaders and Trump.
However, Republicans have dismissed the Democrats’ counter-proposal as unserious and refused to compromise on various items included in their CR, such as permanently extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, repealing the healthcare section of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and recovering canceled funding for NPR and PBS.
Additionally, a meeting scheduled for Thursday between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Trump was canceled by the president, who criticized Democrats for their “ridiculous” demands in response to the GOP’s plan.
