A man walks next to the anti-climb fence placed near the White House, in Washington, DC US., Sept 24, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel BecerrilA man walks next to the anti-climb fence placed near the White House, in Washington, DC US., Sept 24, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel BecerrilThe White House asked federal agencies on Wednesday to prepare plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown next week, marking a sharp departure from the temporary furloughs of workers typically seen during past shutdowns. "Programmes that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the OMB said in the memo, which the White House provided. "Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since Day One - not to govern, but to scare."
