JD Vance, the US vice-president, has used false claims to blame Democrats for the government shutdown as the White House warns that worker layoffs are imminent. Federal departments began closing after midnight following a deadlocked Congress that failed to pass a funding measure.
Making a rare appearance in the White House briefing room, Vance told reporters that layoffs would be necessary if the shutdown continues. “We are going to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues. We don’t like that. We don’t necessarily want to do it, but we’re going to do what we have to do to keep the American people’s essential services continuing to run,” he said.
Vance denied workers would be targeted because of their political allegiance but acknowledged uncertainty over who might be laid off or furloughed. About 750,000 federal employees are expected to be placed on furlough, with essential workers such as military and border agents forced to work without pay.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that government agencies are preparing for cuts. “Unfortunately, because the Democrats shut down the government, the president has directed his cabinet … to identify where cuts can be made – and we believe that layoffs are imminent,” she said.
Vance sought to upbraid Democrats over their demands, targeting Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He falsely claimed they were demanding “billions of dollars of funding to healthcare for illegal aliens”. US law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving the health care benefits in question, and Democrats have not called for a change.
Democrats have been withholding Senate votes to fund the government as leverage over expiring healthcare subsidies. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said Trump and Republicans shut down the government to deny healthcare to working-class Americans. The White House has also begun targeting Democratic-leaning states for a pause or cancellation of infrastructure funds.
