Federal layoffs day or two away, budget director tells Republicans on shutdown call

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a Wednesday call that layoffs of federal workers will be coming in a day or two, according to sources on the call.

Vought had hinted at the layoffs in a memo last week, as the government shutdown loomed, that directed agencies to “use this opportunity to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities” under three conditions.

That memo was widely seen as an attempt to further pressure Democrats into voting for Republicans' bill to avert a shutdown.

The Senate on Wednesday, for the second day in a row, rejected rival short-term funding measures.

Developing.