Senate Democrats earlier this year were unwilling to shut down the government over fears of mass firings and deep cuts to spending, but now with a similar threat on the horizon, they seem unwilling to...

The White House’s threat to leverage an Oct. 1 government shutdown to conduct mass firings of federal employees — and Democrats’ refusal to cave to President Donald Trump’s demands — raise the political and economic stakes of a perennial event that markets have grown to ignore.

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 worker...

The unprecedented threat raises the stakes for the economy and thousands of federal workers, many of whom could lose their livelihoods if Trump follows through with his threat.