WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders are pushing back on internal warnings from the White House that a looming government shutdown would lead to mass layoffs within several federal agencies, dismissing the guidance as an intimidation tactic.

The White House Office of Management and Budget began circulating a memo to agencies with instructions to prepare “reduction in force” plans in the case of a shutdown next week, laying the groundwork for mass firings across the federal government. The memo, obtained by the Deseret News, instructs agency officials to identify programs with funding set to lapse on Oct. 1 and do not have alternative funding available.

The guidance then directs agencies to draft plans to eliminate those jobs that are not “consistent with the President’s priorities” if a spe

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