The funding deadlock in Congress continues, further extending the government shutdown. Senators are set to vote again Friday afternoon.
President Donald Trump has called the shutdown an “unprecedented opportunity” to enact sweeping cuts against “Democrat Agencies” in his Truth Social post on Oct 2, 2025. He will meet with the White House budget chief today to “determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, – he recommends to be cut.”
Soon after, the White House secretary, Karoline Leavitt, disclosed that President Trump is eyeing another round of mass layoffs. She reported that it’s “likely” the government will dismiss workers by the “thousands” if the shutdown proceeds, according to the New York Times.
The federal government began shutting down on Wednesday after republicans and democrats failed to come to an agreement on the funding bills. President Trump and Congress have cast blame for the shutdown on Democrats’ health care demands to extend health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and to reverse cuts under Medicaid.
On the first day of the shutdown, President Trump halted $26 billion in pre-approved funding for facilities in democratic run states, singling out New York, represented by Democratic leaders in Congress, Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer.
Jeffries and Schumer said in a joint statement, “After months of making life harder and more expensive, Donald Trump and Republicans have now shut down the federal government because they do not want to protect the healthcare of the American people.”
Republicans have accused Democrats of refusing to negotiate, “Democrats have officially voted to CLOSE the government. Results: Moms and kids lose WIC nutrition. Veterans lose health care and suicide prevention programs. … The only question now: How long will Chuck Schumer let this pain go on — for his own selfish reasons?” House Speaker Mike Johnson said on social media.
Effects of the shutdown include: Federal workers being furloughed or working without pay. National Parks remain closed. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits will continue as usual. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), hospital medical care, and traffic control will operate, while food assistance programs and federally funded institutions will be reduced or closed.
Senators are leaving town until Friday, meaning the government will remain shut down at least until then.