Shutdown threat in US - Federal agencies prepare for forced furloughs
Illustrative photo: United States Capitol building (Getty Images)
The US Office of Management and Budget has instructed federal agencies to begin implementing their contingency plans in case of a government shutdown, according to CNN.
Just hours before the midnight deadline - the moment when the US government shutdown is set to begin - the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructed federal agencies to activate their contingency plans.
In a letter to agency heads, OMB Director Russell Vought said that President Donald Trump supports the approval of the 2026 federal funding bill (H.R. 5371).
However, he noted that it was now clear Democrats would block the clean continuing resolution before the midnight deadline, which would force the government to shut down.
The letter also instructed relevant departments to immediately begin implementing their plans for an orderly suspension of operations.
Vought also added that federal employees were expected to report for their next scheduled shift to carry out tasks related to the orderly suspension of government operations.
Several agencies have already announced their shutdown procedures, which include placing thousands of federal employees on unpaid furlough, while others will have to continue working without pay.
Earlier, Vought emphasized that the government has the authority to "make lasting changes to the bureaucracy," including eliminating jobs and programs, not just placing employees on leave.
The shutdown is officially set to begin at midnight on October 1, Washington time (7:00 AM Kyiv time).
Democrats' position
Democrats in the Senate said on Tuesday, September 30, that they rejected the temporary funding bill to pressure Republicans into negotiations on continuing expanded subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Only three Democrats, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Angus King (an independent who caucuses with Democrats), joined most Senate Republicans in supporting the stopgap measure.
What government shutdown means
A shutdown is a temporary suspension of the work of parts of the US federal government due to Congress’s failure to approve funding for the upcoming period.
On September 19, Republicans in the House of Representatives approved a short-term funding package to avert a shutdown, drafted without Democratic input. However, Senate Democrats later blocked the bill.
Republicans also failed to pass an alternative proposal that would have extended the deadline to October 31.
Days before the deadline, President Donald Trump met with Democratic Party leaders, but the meeting yielded no results. Vice President J.D. Vance later warned of a high risk of a government shutdown.
On September 30, Trump personally confirmed that a shutdown in the United States was inevitable.
Read more about the potential suspension of the US government and its consequences in RBC-Ukraine’s full analysis.
