The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week

The Trump administration is raising the stakes as Congress faces a looming deadline to pass a government funding bill.

The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible U.S. government shutdown, Politico reported on Wednesday.

The White House asked federal agencies on Wednesday to prepare plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown next week, marking a sharp departure from the temporary furloughs of workers typically seen during past shutdowns.

The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week.

The White House budget office on Wednesday indicated mass firings could be on the table in the event of a government shutdown as Congress faces a stalemate on negotiations in the days leading up to the government funding deadline.

The White House has directed federal agencies to prepare detailed plans for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown, a significant shift from the temporary furloughs that have historically been used