Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Oct 2: The White House has warned that layoffs of federal employees are imminent, as the United States enters its first government shutdown in seven years, triggered on October 1 following a budget deadlock in Congress.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt placed the blame squarely on Democrats, saying their actions had led to the current crisis.

“Unfortunately, because the Democrats shut down the government, the President has directed his Cabinet to work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify potential cuts. Layoffs are imminent,” Leavitt stated.

The administration said it is urgently reviewing staffing across federal agencies to maintain essential services while preparing for significant staff reductions in other departments.

Vice President Vance: “Layoffs Unavoidable If Stalemate Continues”

Vice President J.D. Vance also addressed the media, reinforcing the administration’s warning.

“If this drags on for a few more days, or worse, a few more weeks, layoffs will be unavoidable,” he said. “We’ll need to reallocate resources to keep essential services operational.”

Political War of Words Escalates

The shutdown has deepened political fault lines. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lashed out at the administration, branding it a "job-killing machine."

“Mass firings of federal workers have been a theme since Trump 2.0 began. This is a job-killing administration,” Jeffries said.

The current dispute revolves around Democratic efforts to restore healthcare cuts made earlier in the year under the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”—a major Trump-backed legislation.

Republicans, meanwhile, claim Democrats are pushing for healthcare subsidies for undocumented immigrants—a claim the opposition has strongly denied, calling it misinformation.

The GOP maintains it offered a short-term funding extension through November 21, but Democrats did not agree. Although Republicans control both chambers of Congress, they lack the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass the bill unilaterally.

Impact of the Shutdown

This marks the first U.S. government shutdown since the historic 35-day closure under Trump’s first term—the longest in American history.

While essential services like border protection, air traffic control, and law enforcement remain operational, several non-essential services are already being affected:

• Federal food assistance programs may be delayed or reduced
• Head Start programs and other government-funded preschools could suspend operations
• Food safety inspections might be scaled back
• National parks may close or operate with limited staffing

If the shutdown extends, air travel disruptions are likely, as critical workers like air traffic controllers and TSA officers are required to work without pay, potentially leading to staffing shortages and delays.

Broader Consequences

Economists warn that prolonged shutdowns not only affect government workers and their families but also have a ripple effect across the economy, reducing consumer spending, delaying contracts, and undermining public trust in governance.

As both parties remain entrenched in their positions, millions of federal employees face growing uncertainty over their livelihoods—while Americans brace for the broader fallout of political gridlock in Washington.