The White House has cautioned that thousands of federal employees may soon face layoffs if the current government shutdown continues, adding to the growing political standoff in Washington.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that officials have already begun preparing contingency measures, with the Office of Management and Budget and other agencies assessing which departments could be most affected. “It is likely going to be in the thousands,” she said.
Leavitt placed responsibility on Democrats, accusing them of obstructing a funding agreement. “These conversations would not even be happening if Democrats had voted to keep the government open,” she remarked. She also criticized them for disputes over healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants, arguing that the debate is “politics at the expense of Americans.”
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to meet with Budget Director Russ Vought to review potential cuts to federal programs. In a social media post, Trump described the deadlock as “an unprecedented opportunity” to reshape the federal government, presenting the situation as a chance to advance his agenda.
The shutdown began after lawmakers failed to meet the funding deadline, leaving several agencies without budgets. While essential services remain operational, many departments are already experiencing disruptions as negotiations remain at an impasse.
Republicans are pressing for an extension of current funding for seven weeks, while Democrats have sought broader concessions before agreeing to support any measure in the Senate. Meanwhile, the administration has reportedly suspended or redirected billions of dollars from projects in Democrat-led states, further intensifying partisan disputes.
Both parties continue to insist that they will not accept blame for the funding lapse, as the partial shutdown stretches into its second day.
