The White House has announced that mass layoffs of U.S. federal workers are set to begin within two days due to a government shutdown caused by a lack of agreement between Republicans and Democrats on a new spending plan. The shutdown commenced following the failure of lawmakers to finalize an agreement before a midnight deadline.
Since the shutdown began, there has been minimal indication from either party of a willingness to negotiate. A vote aimed at ending the shutdown was unsuccessful just hours after it started, leading the Senate to adjourn and raising concerns that the situation could persist, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of jobs and the U.S. economy.
At a briefing, Vice President JD Vance criticized Democrats for not seeking a resolution, urging them to prioritize reopening the government. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that layoffs would occur soon and attributed the situation to the Democrats’ actions. This marks an ongoing exchange of blame, with Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer accusing Republicans of attempting to compel Democrats into an unfavorable funding agreement.
While Democrats are advocating for guarantees on healthcare funding before agreeing to a spending deal, Republicans favor a temporary measure to maintain current funding levels until mid-November. They argue that the healthcare benefits proposed by Democrats are not the immediate priority.
Workers in essential roles, such as border agents and military personnel, may continue working without pay, while those deemed non-essential could face unpaid leave. Analysts predict that this shutdown could involve a larger percentage of federal workers than previous ones, estimating around 750,000 could be affected.
Some federal employees were already furloughed, and the Trump administration hinted at potential permanent layoffs. The administration claims that senior Democrats’ push for healthcare benefits for undocumented migrants has contributed to the shutdown, a claim Democrats have denied, citing prohibitions against such coverage under current U.S. law. Plans for layoffs remain largely undisclosed. Despite ongoing negotiations, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated there were no further concessions to be made regarding the funding bill. Another vote on a short-term funding proposal from Republicans is anticipated on Friday.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xrwdny8p1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss