The US government shutdown entered its second day on Thursday amid escalating tensions as former President Donald Trump threatened permanent layoffs of federal workers, intensifying pressure on Democratic leaders to concede in budget negotiations.
Trump announced plans to consult budget chief Russell Vought to identify agencies for potential cuts, calling many Democratic-led departments a "political SCAM" in a Truth Social post. Approximately 750,000 federal employees face unpaid furloughs, with Trump allies warning of "imminent" layoffs numbering "in the thousands."
"We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible," Trump stated, framing the strategy as leverage against Democratic opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the move as intimidation, vowing legal challenges to block mass firings.
Jeffries accused Republicans of forcing the shutdown to avoid expanding healthcare access for working-class Americans. Despite House Republicans being on recess, Democrats expressed readiness to negotiate with Trump and Vice President JD Vance "any time, any place" to resolve the impasse.
The standoff highlights deepening political divisions as critical public services face disruption, with analysts warning of ripple effects on economic confidence and global perceptions of US governance stability.
