With a government shutdown looming, the White House made a strong move to not only pressure Democrats but also allow for a huge benefit should it not be averted. If an agreement cannot be reached, departments have been instructed to begin firing many of their employees permanently, achieving some of the goals of the original DOGE initiative.
The Trump administration has had legal challenges enacting much of the cuts DOGE and others have wanted from the federal government. By firing instead of the standard furlough that comes with government shutdowns, any court challenges will likely not be successful.
More from Zero Hedge:
White House Orders Agencies to Prepare Mass Layoff Plans in Event of Shutdown
The White House budget office has instructed federal agencies to prepare to fire a ton of people (aka ‘reduction-in-force’ plans) that could permanently eliminate jobs in the event of a government shutdown – the latest twist in the latest shutdown groundhog day – effectively challenging Democrats to a game of chicken.
In a memo shared with agencies Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget said departments must identify programs where discretionary funding will lapse on Oct. 1 and no alternative source is available. Instead of a typical furlough, OMB has told agencies to get ready for permanent reductions – starting with positions that are out of alignment with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
In the past, affected employees were furloughed on a temporary basis and reinstated once Congress approved new spending. Not this time – as OMB Director Russ Vought is using the prospect of deep cuts as leverage against the Democrats.
“Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” reads the OMB memo – with agencies instructed to submit their proposed RIF plans and to issue notices to employees who might otherwise be excepted or furloughed during a lapse in funding, Politico reports.
Core services – including Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, military operations, law enforcement, immigration enforcement and air traffic control – would continue regardless of a shutdown, according to an OMB official familiar with the guidance.
At the heart of the deadlock, Democrats are demanding that any short-term spending measure include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire, as well as broader negotiations on domestic priorities. Republicans, by contrast, are pushing to advance a leaner stopgap bill already passed by the House that would fund the government through Nov. 21 while largely preserving Trump administration priorities and holding the line on additional healthcare spending.
The memo arrives days before the Sept. 30 deadline to avert a lapse in government funding. The House has passed a short-term measure to keep operations running through Nov. 21, but Senate Democrats have rejected the plan, insisting on negotiations over a broader bipartisan package that could extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The OMB also said that if Congress passes a clean stopgap bill before the fiscal year deadline, nobody will get fired (aside from the usual firings).
Democrats, of course, are absolutely beside themselves – with Senate Minority Leader Chuck ‘hamburger expert’ Schumer (D-NY) claiming that the plan confirmed his warnings during the last shutdown standoff in March, when he argued that it would enable the Trump administration to accelerate cuts to government programs. Schumer, who will keep his job no matter what, called the OMB memo “an attempt at intimidation.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries struck a sharper tone, warning voters in Virginia – home to many federal employees – that the administration’s policies were “ruining lives and punishing hardworking families already struggling with Trump Tariffs and inflation.”
With just days left before government funding runs out, the OMB memo underscores the potential for this shutdown fight to reshape the federal workforce in ways not seen in previous budget battles.
As a proponent of government shutdowns, this is all very good news to me. If the shutdown is averted, we get to move on to more important issues. If it is allowed to happen, we get to cut some of the fat out of the federal government.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
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Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
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Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
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Shut it down. Fire them.
A fifty percent reduction of the gov. work force would only be noticed by those laid off.
Sounds like a plan. Take out all of the RINO parts of the present bill. Then make them vote for it anyway. Or shut down the government and start handing out pink slips.
Disband the IRS !!!!
This is great news. Shut it down and fire as many Federal bureaucrats as possible.
We cannot continue to spend even a dime on illegals, it has to end and they all have to go.
But bureaucrats would still keep their jobs as these firings would only fire working class people.
The hits just keep coming. Government shutdown is the best thing to happen for the U.S. citizens. The main job of government is to control and exploit their citizens. Our government is the greatest enemy of our citizens.