Mass layoffs of US federal workers will begin within two days, the White House says, as lawmakers trade blame over the first government shutdown in almost seven years.
The shutdown began on Wednesday after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to agree on a new spending plan before the midnight deadline. There is little sign that either side is willing to compromise, and a vote to end the shutdown failed just hours after it began.
The Senate has since adjourned, raising fears that the shutdown could drag on and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs while risking billions in lost economic output.
Vice-President JD Vance made a rare appearance at a White House briefing, accusing Democrats of political maneuvering. He emphasized the urgency for both parties to work toward reopening the government to alleviate the pressure on American workers.
Vance stated, If this thing drags on, we will have to lay people off, highlighting the administration's preparedness for permanent cuts if negotiations remain stalled.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that mass layoffs were indeed on the horizon, placing responsibility for the shutdown squarely on the Democrats.
Senate Democrats, however, maintain that they are attempting to preserve healthcare benefits for lower-income Americans, asserting that negotiations with Republicans over these critical issues have been unproductive.
As the stalemate continues, millions of federal employees face the prospect of furloughs and rampant uncertainty over their job security, with analysts predicting this shutdown could affect more federal workers than the last major one in 2018.
