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On the third day of the U.S. government shutdown, President Donald Trump warned of potential federal layoffs. The shutdown, which began Wednesday (October 1), stems from a budget impasse over healthcare funding. President Trump stated he would use the shutdown to identify and close "Democratic agencies" that do not align with his administration's policies. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed this, suggesting cuts to programs that clash with the administration's values.
Democrats are demanding the restoration of funding for Medicaid and Obamacare, which were cut earlier this year. These cuts, according to the Congressional Budget Office, could leave 10.9 million people without health insurance. Republicans, however, want to maintain current funding levels but lack the Senate votes needed to pass a budget.
The shutdown has already resulted in thousands of federal workers being furloughed or working without pay. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that threats of layoffs would not sway Democrats to compromise on healthcare funding. According to BBC News, Jeffries emphasized that the Trump administration has been reducing federal jobs since taking office.
As the shutdown continues, federal services are disrupted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program might run out of funds soon. Meanwhile, CNBC reported that essential services like mail delivery and air traffic control remain operational, but federal employees in these roles are working without pay.
The Senate is expected to reconvene Friday (October 3) to vote on a resolution to temporarily fund the government. However, with both parties entrenched in their positions, a quick resolution seems unlikely.