Thune says mass shutdown firings don't "have to happen"

"I'm very comfortable with the position that we have. It's to fund the government, finish the appropriations process, deal with the issues the Democrats want to deal with after we keep the government open."

"They're doing it anyway."

"We've seen since January 20th mass firings already taking place by the Trump administration in the absence of [a] government shutdown."

A warning that "They're playing with fire, and they know it" accompanied a refusal to directly endorse mass firings, adding "it doesn't have to happen." A stated priority is to fund the government, finish appropriations, then address other issues after keeping the government open. A counterclaim said "They're doing it anyway" and asserted "There's no shutdown, they're laying off all these people." The Office of Personnel Management projected about 300,000 federal workers would leave by year-end through voluntary or forced departures. An OMB memo ordered agencies to send Reduction in Force notices for programs "not consistent with the President's priorities." Calls were made for a bipartisan spending agreement and an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Read at Axios