According to The Wall Street Journal this morning, the White House has directed federal agencies to prepare for mass firings—not just furloughs—if Congress fails to pass a funding bill before the September 30 deadline. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo instructs departments to identify programs “not consistent with the President’s priorities” and begin drafting permanent reduction-in-force plans.

For Colorado, the consequences could be severe. The state is home to more than 50,000 federal employees, many of whom work in agencies that provide essential services to rural and urban communities alike. If the shutdown proceeds and mass firings begin, Colorado could see:

– Wildfire response delays due to cuts at the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
– Disruptions in Medicaid and ACA enrollment for low-income families and seniors.
– Reduced staffing at VA hospitals, affecting veterans in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Grand Junction.
– Paused housing assistance and food security programs in Denver and across the Front Range.

“This isn’t just a budget fight in Washington—it’s a direct threat to Colorado’s workforce and safety net,” said a policy analyst at the Colorado Fiscal Institute. “Mass firings would mean permanent job loss, not just temporary disruption.”

The shutdown standoff centers on competing priorities. Senate Democrats are demanding restoration of hundreds of billions in healthcare spending, including enhanced ACA subsidies and reversal of Medicaid cuts. Republicans support a seven-week extension that maintains current spending levels and adds security funding for lawmakers following the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

President Trump has canceled negotiations with Democratic leaders, calling their demands “unserious and ridiculous.” In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned the OMB directive as “an attempt at intimidation,” while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called OMB Director Russ Vought a “malignant political hack.”

Colorado’s congressional delegation remains split. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) has backed the President’s approach, while Sen. Michael Bennet (D) warned that “Colorado families shouldn’t be collateral damage in a political power play.”

With the Senate reconvening Monday and the House not scheduled to return until after October 1, the path to resolution remains uncertain. If no agreement is reached, the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, and the mass firings outlined in the memo could begin shortly thereafter.

For Coloradans, the stakes are personal. Federal programs are deeply embedded in daily life—from wildfire mitigation to veterans’ care. A shutdown with permanent job losses wouldn’t just disrupt services—it would redefine them.