Thu, 02 Oct 2025

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 White House says layoffs 'imminent' with no end to shutdown in sight

As a bitter standoff between Republicans and Democrats plays out, there is little sign that either side is willing to budge.

*Up to 750,000 people could be put on temporary leave, with some potentially facing permanent job loss within days
*White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says layoffs will occur "two days, imminent, very soon"
*President Donald Trump claims Democrats are playing "political games" and that the shutdown is an opportunity to make lasting cuts
*The government has been shut down for two days, with no signs of a resolution in sight
*Essential workers such as border agents and military personnel may be forced to work without pay
*A prolonged shutdown could cost the US economy billions of dollars in lost output
*Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to "bully" them into accepting a funding plan that includes cuts to healthcare benefits
*Republicans say they will not compromise on healthcare extensions, which they claim will cost taxpayers more money and were instituted due to Covid-era complexities
*Analysts expect the shutdown to be larger in scale than the 2018 shutdown, with around 40% of federal workers affected.
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