Republicans appear set on ratcheting up the pain on Democrats in a push to force them to bend and back a bill to reopen the government.
The administration signaled Wednesday it would follow through on its threat, first issued last week, to lay off federal workers during a shutdown.
White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans that federal layoffs would come in the next day or two. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that layoffs are "imminent."
A government shutdown regularly causes many federal employees deemed nonessential to be furloughed and other essential employees to work without pay until funding resumes, but the administration has shown an interest in permanently laying off some nonessential workers.
The White House has offered mixed messages on the firings, with Trump earlier in the week suggesting they could increase the pain on Democrats.
"We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them. Like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like," he said.
Vice President Vance on Wednesday portrayed the looming layoffs as not what the administration wants but what it feels is necessary.
"We're not targeting federal agencies based on politics, we're targeting the people's government so that as much as possible of the essential services can continue to function," he said at a White House press conference.
"Let's be honest. If this thing drags on for another few days or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off," he added.
The warnings about possible layoffs came after the OMB issued its memo last week, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) brushed off the threat.
They called it a scare tactic in the funding fight and expressed confidence that any mass personnel cuts would be blocked in court or reversed, as the administration has done in hiring back some laid-off workers.
But in many cases, the courts have at least temporarily allowed the administration's firings to continue, suggesting the judiciary may not provide the relief many Democrats are hoping to see.
Some more moderate Democrats like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) expressed interest in finding a way to avoid a shutdown and the promised layoffs ahead of Tuesday night's deadline, though almost all Senate Democrats ultimately voted against the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21.
The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that senators expect the shutdown to drag on at least until the middle of next week, or perhaps longer, as Senate Democrats say they're prepared to oppose the GOP-backed CR as it keeps coming up for a vote.
The Senate will not vote on the CR on Thursday because of the Yom Kippur holiday, but another vote is expected on Friday. Regular votes are likely to be held going forward to force Democrats to keep going on the record about maintaining their demands for extending Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits or quickly reopening the government.
Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Angus King (I-Maine) notably defected to vote for the CR on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday when it came up for another vote.
And those votes were eye-opening for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who is now trying to ramp up pressure on more Democrats to break off and back the CR, The Hill's Al Weaver reports.
Five additional Democratic votes would be needed in the Senate to reach the 60-vote threshold to overcome the filibuster. The GOP holds a 53-seat majority, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has voted against the CR.
In the meantime, the administration is embracing the shutdown as a vulnerability for Democrats and an opportunity to slash government jobs and roll back programs.
The administration also may seek to take steps outside the public's radar. It announced on Wednesday that it's pausing about $18 million in federal funding for infrastructure projects in New York City, citing concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
The White House said it's reviewing whether any practices violate race- or sex-based contracting requirements, but the review may take longer than expected because many workers are furloughed.
While the administration has shown a willingness to place restrictions on federal funding based on state and local policies it disagrees with, the timing illustrates another method by which Trump can exercise power while the government is shut down.
▪ The Hill: Democratic leaders hold firm in face of mass firing threat: "Cruelty is the point."
▪ The Associated Press: Democrats embrace shutdown fight in rare moment of unity against Trump.
▪ ABC: Accusations fly over who is responsible for the shutdown.
The effects of the shutdown are already being felt.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 750,000 employees are being furloughed while the shutdown continues, which will affect services at a wide range of agencies.
National parks, which often close during shutdowns, will generally remain accessible to visitors, but The Hill's Rachel Frazin reports that the furloughing of almost two-thirds of their staff will present significant challenges, including maintenance and public safety issues.
The Hill's Joseph Choi reports that critical health programs will operate during the shutdown, but many services will pause or be significantly less efficient given the furloughs.
Transportation Security Administration workers and air traffic controllers are deemed essential so they're still working but without pay. Delays could quickly mount as the shutdown goes on, given the number of absences and sick days that workers take has increased during past shutdowns.
The Smithsonian Institution said its museums, research centers and the National Zoo will remain open at least until Monday. But keeping them open could become increasingly difficult if the shutdown extends past a week.
▪ The New York Times: How the shutdown is affecting federal services, workers.
▪ The Hill: "FAFSA forms, launched ahead of shutdown, could be in position for 'record high' season."
▪ The Hill: White House dismisses majority of National Council on the Humanities.
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