US President Donald Trump denounces Democrats for pushing federal layoffs as the closure enters its fifth day.
The White House warned that a massive layoff of federal workers could begin if US President Donald Trump concludes that negotiations with Congressional Democrats to end partial government shutdowns have reached a dead end.
As the shutdown entered its fifth day on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told CNN’s programme coalition that he still believes Democrats could avoid it thinking it could be a costly political and economic crisis.
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“President Trump and Las Vault are putting things side by side and ready to act if they have to, but they hope they don’t,” Hassett said to the White House budget director. “If the president decides that negotiations are absolutely not going anywhere, then the layoffs begin.”
Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday, saying the potential job was a “Democrat layoff” and that “everyone was fired, that’s Democrats’ fault.”
Trump attended a US Navy Memorial Ceremony held in Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday despite ongoing government closures.
“The show must continue!” Trump wrote in Truth Society before departing the White House for the Norfolk Navy Bureau, calling it a “show of Navy aptitude and strength.”
However, the celebrations risked being caught up in partisan tensions as Democrats fueled the closure and “trying to destroy this fantastic celebration of the US Navy’s birthday.”
The discussion remains frozen
There have been no meaningful negotiations since Trump last met Congressional leaders after Senate Democrats rejected a short-term funding bill to keep government agencies open until November 21st.
“They refused to talk to us,” Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer told The Nation, facing the CBS program, arguing that only new talks between Trump and Congressional leaders could end the standoff.
Democrats are calling for a permanent extension of the enhanced premium tax credit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ensuring that the White House will not unilaterally reduce the spending agreed on in any transaction.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Toon said he was open to addressing Democratic concerns, but urged them to reopen the government first. “It’s publicly available or otherwise,” Thune told Fox News. “It’s really a choice that’s in front of them.”
Trump said he is willing to discuss health reforms as well as Republicans. “We want to fix it just like we want to fix it. Obamacare was a disaster for people, so we hope it will fix it and work,” Trump said.
I can’t see the transaction
Both parties’ Rank and File Senators have held informal consultations on healthcare and spending to break the deadlock, but progress has been minimal. “At this point, no,” Sen. Reuben Gallego told CNN when asked if lawmakers were approaching the deal.
The Senate is scheduled to vote again Monday on a competing fundraising bill backed by the Republican-controlled House and proposed by Democrats.
As long as the closure continues, around 750,000 federal employees are faced decisively, with the total compensation estimated at $400 million per day. Federal workers are guaranteed backpay under the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, but payments will only resume once the closure ends.
