‘We Cannot Play This Game’: Did GOP Cave On Government Worker Layoffs In Shutdown Deal?

Senate Republicans quietly negotiated with Democrats to reverse the Trump administration’s layoffs of government workers as part of a deal to end the government shutdown, eventually getting the White House to buy in despite their initial resistance.

Office of Management and Budget Director (OMB) Russ Vought laid off thousands of government workers through reductions in force (RIFs) during the shutdown, a move that was lauded by much of the Republican Party. However, those bureaucrats will be returning to work under the Senate’s bill to reopen the government, which was supported by eight Democrats...