UPDATE: President Donald Trump is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House today, amidst a looming deadline for government funding that could trigger mass firings across federal agencies. This critical meeting comes as the nation faces a potential government shutdown on September 30, with urgent implications for federal employees and programs nationwide.
The White House budget office has issued a new memo directing agencies to prepare for significant layoffs, targeting programs that are not legally mandated. The directive marks a drastic shift in how shutdowns are managed, emphasizing cuts to programs whose funding would lapse without congressional approval. This memo, obtained by CNN, outlines the administration’s strategy, stating that it is crucial to identify and eliminate jobs inconsistent with Trump’s priorities.
“The steps outlined above will not be necessary if Democrats in Congress do not trigger a shutdown,” the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) wrote in the memo, indicating the administration’s hope for a resolution. The potential impact of these layoffs could be devastating for thousands of federal employees.
In addition to discussing trade and military deals, including the purchase of Boeing aircraft, Trump will also meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following his engagement with Erdogan. Both meetings are closed to the press but are expected to touch on pressing international issues.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the estate of Jeffrey Epstein has submitted a third batch of documents to the House Oversight Committee. These documents include phone message logs, cash transaction ledgers, and flight manifests. The estate has requested that the committee refrain from making this information public until it can review proposed redactions to protect victims’ identities.
With these significant events unfolding, the urgency for resolution on government funding has never been greater. As the clock ticks down to the end of September, the stakes are high for millions of Americans reliant on federal services and jobs.
Stay tuned for live updates as these critical meetings unfold today, and watch for developments regarding government funding that could affect your community.
