OMB Director Announces Imminent Federal Employee Layoffs Amid Shutdown

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought informed House Republicans that the Trump administration plans to begin laying off federal employees within the next one to two days, according to multiple media reports. The announcement followed two failed Senate votes on a stopgap funding measure within a 24-hour period. The funding bill would require at least 60 votes to advance in the Senate, meaning Republicans would need support from at least eight Democrats, given Senator Rand Paul's opposition to the measure.