Maine U.S. Senator Susan Collins is the only Republican, so far, to criticize the Trump administration’s announcement it will seek to make job cuts if a government shutdown takes place.

A memo this week from the Office of Management and Budget instructs agencies to use the shutdown as an opportunity to reduce their work forces.

Collins says federal employees should not be treated as what she called “pawns” while lawmakers haggle over government funding.

Republicans are trying to pass a temporary spending plan, known as a “continuing resolution”, to keep the government running beyond a deadline next Tuesday, while Democrats are demanding concession for health care spending.

“We must pass a clean, short-term continuing resolution to prevent a harmful government shutdown and allow Congress time to complete the annual funding bills,” said Collins. “Federal employees dedicate themselves to serving the public, and they should not be treated as pawns amid a needless partisan impasse.”

Democrats want health care coverage that was stripped in President Trump’s earlier “big, beautiful bill” spending plan be reinstated. They’re specifically calling for protecting Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Republicans are refusing to move off their plan fo a seven-week “clean” package to keep the government funded.

Federal government funding will end next Tuesday, October 1.  A shutdown would have wide ranging consequences, including the closing of parks and museums and the hindering of air travel, as well as the ability of businesses from obtaining permits and loans