Maryland Democrats in Congress react to layoff threat with government shutdown looming
Democratic lawmakers from Maryland are reacting to a memo sent by the White House asking agencies to consider mass layoffs of federal workers if there is a government shutdown. The deadline to reach a funding agreement is Oct. 1.
So far, 15,000 Marylanders have lost their jobs because of the Trump administration's cuts, the most of any state in the country, according to Democratic Congressman Johnny Olszewski, from Maryland.
"Maryland is disproportionately affected. We don't want to have a shutdown," Olszewski said.
In the memo obtained by CBS News, agencies are asked to consider reduction-in-force notices — a federal term for layoffs — for employees in programs, projects or activities that have discretionary funding that stops on Oct. 1 or that don't have any alternative sources of funding.
The White House says that programs that won't be impacted by a possible shutdown are Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, military operations, law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and air traffic control.
Trump and Congress leaders will meet on Monday
President Trump and top Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet on Monday to negotiate.
A source close to Mr. Trump told CBS News that the president privately welcomes the prospect of a shutdown because it will enable him to wield executive power to slash some government programs and salaries.
Pushback against more federal firings
Olszewski, who spoke with WJZ's Janay Reece on WJZ Sunday Morning, said he's pushing forward a bill to stop mass firings.
"We just dropped a bill this past Friday to prevent additional firings the president has threatened during the shutdown," Olszewski said.
The American Federation of Government Employees said in a statement, "Federal employees are not bargaining chips. They are veterans, caregivers, law enforcement officers, and neighbors who serve their country and fellow Americans every day. They deserve stability and respect, not pink slips and political games."
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland who spoke Sunday morning on CNN's State of the Union, accused Mr. Trump of wanting a blank check to use for his priorities.
"In addition to dealing with this healthcare issue and preventing these spikes, we also want to make sure the president can't just spend money that he wants," Van Hollen said.
Republican Congressman Andy Harris, from Maryland, said in a statement to WJZ that the reason the government is nearing a shutdown is because the Democrats are "demanding $1.5 trillion in unrelated spending demands, including handouts for illegal immigrants, bailouts for insurance companies, and extensions of wasteful COVID-era programs."
"I stand with the President and his administration in refusing these demands that would drive up debt and hurt hardworking Americans," Rep. Harris continued.
A sticking point for Democrats is healthcare spending and cuts to the Affordable Care Act, and potential recession cuts in the future.
"We shouldn't have bipartisan agreements on budgets only to then have the president and his republican allies in Congress be able to go back and unilaterally undo the funding that we just put in place," Olszewski said.
Republicans claim Democrats want a government shutdown
In a social media post, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson claims that Democrats "want to shut down the American government, hurting American citizens, so that they can give free, taxpayer-funded health care to non-Americans."
Republicans control the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Other Republican lawmakers, including Vice President Vance, charge Democrats with "demanding we fund healthcare for illegal aliens."
"That's how out of touch the Democrats are with hard-working American taxpayers," said Rep. Harris.
Maryland Democrats say Republicans refuse to negotiate
"Mr. Speaker - I do not want a shutdown," responded Rep. Olszewski. "However, "to be clear," YOU and fellow Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. If the government shuts down, you, President Trump, and the GOP own that."
"Republicans control Congress and the White House," Van Hollen said. "They planted a ticking time bomb that could kick millions off their health care. We're trying to defuse it, but they're threatening a government shutdown instead—while demanding a blank check for Trump."
"Has life gotten better for you since Trump took office? Have costs gone down? No," said Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks, from Maryland. "That's why Trump wants to shut down the government. That's why Republicans refuse to negotiate. What they're doing isn't working, and they want hardworking Americans to pay the price."
The House approved a Republican measure to extend funding for seven weeks. Democrats presented a counteroffer to keep the government funded that would also extend expiring health insurance subsidies.
Mr. Trump canceled a White House meeting with Democratic leaders on Sept. 22, saying, "No meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive."