Trump has an important warning for voters.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a stark warning Monday: if Democrats don’t act immediately to stop a government shutdown, permanent federal layoffs could begin within days.
The statement comes after President Donald Trump’s budget office issued a directive to all federal agencies, telling them to prepare for historic cuts to wasteful government programs and agencies that have ballooned under decades of reckless spending in Washington.
“There will be layoffs if Democrats don’t keep the government open,” Leavitt declared, making it clear that President Trump is ready to take action to protect taxpayers and hold D.C. accountable.
Trump to Meet Top Leaders — Democrats Under Pressure
President Trump is scheduled to meet with the four top congressional leaders at the White House later Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have both claimed they are “hopeful” a deal can be reached — but insiders say Democrats are pushing for massive new spending packages that Trump has refused to accept.
Leavitt made it clear that the President will not cave:
“There is nothing to negotiate when you have a clean continuing resolution,” she told reporters. “The President’s priority is to keep the government open and protect the American people — not give in to Democrats’ political games.”
During an interview on Fox & Friends, Leavitt said:
“President Trump is giving Democrat leadership one last chance to be reasonable and put the American people first. Now is not the time for cheap political points against Donald Trump while hardworking families pay the price.”
OMB Memo: Permanent Layoffs Are on the Table
Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a memo to federal agencies with a historic message: Prepare for reductions in force (RIF) — government code for permanent layoffs.
Traditionally, shutdowns result in temporary furloughs, where federal workers are sent home but later receive back pay once the government reopens. This time is different. The Trump administration is signaling a serious effort to permanently cut bloated bureaucracies, fulfilling a key promise to drain the swamp and end wasteful spending.
This move has been praised by fiscal conservatives as a bold step toward accountability and smaller government — ideas long championed by Trump supporters.
Republicans Blast Democrats for Political Games
Congressional Republicans and the White House are united in placing the blame squarely on Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) didn’t hold back:
“Democrats have taken the federal government hostage. They want a whole laundry list of demands that have nothing to do with keeping the government open. It’s reckless and irresponsible.”
The Republican message is simple: Democrats must pass a clean funding bill or be responsible for historic layoffs and the pain caused by a shutdown.
What It Means for Everyday Americans
A shutdown with permanent job cuts would have major consequences, including:
- Closing non-essential federal offices, saving billions in wasted spending.
- Ending programs that drain taxpayer dollars without delivering results.
- Forcing Washington elites to face real-world accountability for their decisions.
For millions of conservatives who have long demanded a smaller, more efficient federal government, this could be a turning point in Trump’s fight to restore fiscal sanity in Washington.
Bottom Line
President Trump is drawing a line in the sand. Either Democrats work with him to keep the government open, or they will bear the blame for historic layoffs and a dramatic reduction of Washington’s power.
The deadline is Tuesday. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
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