With a government shutdown looming, federal workers in New York could face harsher consequences this time around as the Trump administration threatens potential layoffs if a deal isn’t made by midnight on Oct. 1.
While shutdowns typically temporarily furlough federal workers until lawmakers reach a deal, in a memo sent to federal agencies on Sept. 24, President Donald Trump’s White House Office of Management and Budget warned of another round of mass firings if government funding lapses.
“Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” the notice said.
Read on to find out New York politicians are reacting, how many federal workers are in the Empire State, and more.
What issues are lawmakers discussing?
Republicans are pushing to extend current funding levels to Nov. 21 through a stopgap solution, while Democrats are fighting for changes to health care access and subsidies. Trump met with Democrats in a private meeting at the White House on Sept. 29 but left without an agreement to keep the federal government open.
“There was a frank and direct discussion with the president of the United States and Republican leaders,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters after the meeting with the president. But he added that “significant and meaningful differences remain.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who attended the meeting with Trump, told reporters at the White House that if the government does close, it will be Democrats’ fault. Trump listened to their arguments, he said. “They just wouldn’t acknowledge the simple facts.”
Why is Trump threatening mass layoffs?
Trump blamed Democrats for the layoff push as opposed to the typical furloughs, when asked about it in the Oval Office on Sept. 25.
“This is all caused by the Democrats,” Trump told reporters. “They asked us to do something that is totally unreasonable. They never change.”
The main union for federal workers — the American Federation of Government Employees — has called for good faith negotiations in recent days.
“Federal employees are not bargaining chips,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a Sept. 25 statement. “They are veterans, caregivers, law enforcement officers, and neighbors who serve their country and fellow Americans every day. They deserve stability and respect, not pink slips and political games.”
How New York lawmakers are reacting to a potential shutdown
In a Sept. 29 X post, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the shutdown “is in Trump’s hands.”
“Americans are facing a crisis of rising health care costs,” Schumer continued. “If the government shuts down, it’s because Republicans would rather shut it down rather than help people afford health care.”
U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney rebuked Schumer’s comments on X the same day, saying it’s Democrats’ choice to shut the government down, “not ours.”
“Don’t let Chuck Schumer spin this. We funded the government in the House,” Tenney’s post said. “The Senate needs 60 votes, & Democrats are the ones blocking it.”
U.S Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents the Lower Hudson Valley’s 17th district, made a tongue-in-cheek post to his Instagram account Tuesday.
“Where’s Waldo?” Lawler wrote, reposting a photo from the House Democrats X page. “See if you can spot a single Democrat who voted to keep the government open and funded!”
In contrast, Congressman George Latimer, who represents the nearby 16th district which includes Westchester and the Bronx, posted that he and his Democratic colleagues were in D.C., “ready to work to protect affordable healthcare and keep the government open.
“Republicans have refused to negotiate or come back to D.C., which is unacceptable,” Latimer’s post reads.
When would the government shutdown start?
If a deal isn’t reached by midnight on Oct. 1, a shutdown of all non-essential federal agencies would begin at 12:01 a.m.
Which federal agencies would be affected by a shutdown?
Essential agencies that would remain open during a government shutdown include the United States Postal Service, Medicare, Social Security and air-traffic control. Non-essential agencies include the National Park Service.
How many federal workers does New York have?
As of September 2024, New York state had just over 54,000 federal civilian employees, according to Congress.gov. That number, according to preliminary figures from the Office of Management and Budget, grew to 71,437 at the end of March 2025 with over 17,000 employed by the Veterans Health Administration.
How many government shutdowns have there been?
Over the last five decades, there have been 21 government shutdowns, many of which lasted only a day or two. The most recent one took place during Trump’s first term — lasting 34 days between December 2018 and January 2019 — due to a stalemate over border security.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network, lohud staff.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How many federal workers in NY could be affected by a government shutdown? What to know
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
