Horizon cutting-room links: 26 September 2025

"Democrats Dig in on Shutdown After White House Layoff Threat," Politico

Democrats are standing firm against threats from the White House regarding potential mass layoffs of federal workers. Despite the looming possibility of job losses, lawmakers are denouncing the tactics as intimidation and are urging bipartisan negotiations to avert the shutdown.

• Multiple congressional Democrats are dismissing the White House's threat to fire federal workers as a negotiating tactic, emphasizing that they will not yield as the shutdown deadline of 30 September approaches.
• Senator Chris Van Hollen labeled the layoff threats as “mafia-style blackmail,” asserting that they are likely illegal, while other Democrats argue that such tactics undermine the livelihoods of federal employees.
• Some Republicans are also expressing unease with the layoff threats, with calls for a stopgap funding bill to avoid treating federal workers as “pawns” in a partisan standoff.

"D.C.-area Economy Struggles as Unemployment Rises, Private Sector Growth Lags," Washington Business Journal

The Washington region is facing significant economic challenges as federal downsizing leads to increased unemployment, a mismatch in private sector job growth, and a surge in home listings. According to a report by Brookings Metro, the region's unemployment rate has outpaced the national average.

• The unemployment rate in Greater Washington rose by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year in June, contrasting sharply with a national increase of just 0.1 percentage points during the same period, highlighting the severe impact of federal downsizing on the local economy.
• Private sector job growth in the region has been sluggish, with only 0.77 percent increase recorded this year, predominantly in construction (45 percent), hospitality (18 percent), and healthcare (14 percent), creating a mismatch with the skill sets of laid-off federal workers.
• A 64 percent increase in active home sale listings in June compared to the previous year suggests outmigration of skilled workers from the area.

"Trump Budget Office Is Hiding Federal Spending Information, Ethics Nonprofit Alleges," Government Executive

A progressive nonprofit alleges that the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget is evading a court order to publish essential federal spending information regarding apportionments that detail funding availability. The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) claims that OMB is including legally binding footnotes about undisclosed "spend plans" in its reports, thus obscuring the conditions tied to appropriated funds.

• OMB has been accused of not fully complying with a court order to publish federal funding distribution data, which has prompted a lawsuit from CREW.
• At least 131 out of 2,245 apportionment documents approved recently included undisclosed "spend plans," making the public apportionment data effectively meaningless without access to these plans.
• GAO has determined that the Trump administration violated the Impoundment Control Act on six occasions by withholding or delaying appropriated funds, heightening concerns about transparency in federal spending.

"US Intel Officials “Concerned” China Will Soon Master Reusable Launch," Ars Technica

US intelligence officials express growing concerns that China is rapidly advancing its capabilities in reusable rocket technology, which could diminish the United States' competitive edge in space. With the increasing number of Chinese rocket launches and advancements in on-orbit refueling, experts warn that it is only a matter of time before China can deploy reusable rockets, enhancing its ability to place more satellites into orbit at a faster pace.

• US Space Force officials emphasize that SpaceX's achievements in reusable rockets provide a significant advantage over China, with SpaceX completing its 500th Falcon 9 booster landing and preparing for its 500th re-flight.
• China has utilized fourteen different rocket types for fifty-six orbital-class missions in 2025, but none have flown more than eleven times, indicating a reliance on expendable rockets which limits their launch frequency compared to US capabilities.
• The recent success of China's satellite refueling experiments in geosynchronous orbit presents a potential game-changer, as this capability allows for different forms of reuse in space, while the US continues to focus on developing reusable launch systems.