White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that thousands of federal employees could lose their jobs as the government shutdown enters its second day. Leavitt told reporters the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) is “unfortunately” working on reducing the workforce, with layoffs likely in the “thousands.” She blamed Democratic lawmakers for the crisis, claiming they refused to pass a clean 7-week continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating.
President Donald Trump, speaking via Truth Social, urged Republicans to use the shutdown to eliminate “wasteful spending,” calling it an “opportunity” to cut “dead wood, waste, and fraud.” He criticized Democrats for proposing a CR that includes reinstating Medicaid funding for non-citizens and restoring the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which he labeled as left-wing priorities. Trump also reiterated his claim that Democrats are “giving your healthcare money to illegal aliens,” accusing them of wanting to “open our borders to the criminals of the world.”
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) rejected negotiations on the stalled bill, stating there was “nothing to negotiate” and no way to make it “leaner or cleaner.” Meanwhile, the White House announced $18 billion in withheld infrastructure funding for New York City, home to Democratic leaders Rep. Hakeem Jeffreys and Senator Chuck Schumer. Leavitt defended the move, insisting the shutdown’s consequences would not have occurred if Democrats had prioritized keeping the government open.
Trump further claimed he met with OMB Director Russ Vought to identify “Democrat Agencies… a political SCAM” for potential cuts, calling the situation an “unprecedented opportunity” to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” He reiterated his support for policies ensuring taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits are reserved for “law-abiding American citizens.”
The shutdown has intensified as Senate Republicans face repeated failures to secure 60 votes for a clean CR, with the next vote scheduled for Friday.
