Federal agencies should implement mass layoffs of their workforces if the government shuts down next week, the White House told agencies on Wednesday, dramatically escalating the stakes of a potential funding lapse.

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

Taylor Budowich, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff overseeing communications, will leave the administration later this month for a new job, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN.

"Replacing Biden's portrait with a picture of a pen? He gave decades of his life to public service," said one critic.

In past government shutdowns, workers have been put on temporary furloughs until funding resumes. This time, the Trump White House is looking for bigger and more permanent cuts, a new memo shows.

The White House budget office is telling federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown, with instructions to target programs they are not legally required to continue.

The Office of Management and Budget says in a memo that agencies should prepare reduction-in-force plans to accompany furloughs if a spending bill isn't passed next week.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday sent the White House the details of a drug pricing pilot for official review, according to a government website.

President Donald Trump has introduced a “Presidential Walk of Fame” along a noticeable walkway outside the West Wing of the White House.

The comments came during an event with conservative lobbyists. Abbott has batted down past rumors of a White House bid by saying he is focused on the state.