Republican and Democratic lawmakers remained at an impasse on Sunday over how to reopen the federal government, showing few public signs of meaningful negotiations to end what is about to become a six-day shutdown – with President Donald Trump claiming that layoffs are already taking place.
Asked on Sunday night when federal workers would be dismissed, as he has threatened, Trump told reporters: “It’s taking place right now, and it’s all because of the Democrats.”
“The Democrats are causing the loss of a lot of jobs,” he added, declining to specify which agencies were affected.
The possibility of layoffs would heighten an already tense standoff in Washington, where lawmakers have struggled to build trust or find common ground. Both parties are betting that public sentiment has turned in their favour – putting pressure on the other side to concede.
Democrats are insisting on renewing subsidies to help millions of households cover health insurance costs, while Trump wants to maintain existing spending levels – believing Democrats will ultimately give in as jobs and federal projects are put at risk.
The confrontation comes amid growing economic uncertainty. While the US economy has continued to expand this year, hiring has slowed and inflation remains elevated. Trump’s import tariffs have disrupted supply chains and dented business confidence in his leadership. At the same time, there is broad recognition that the nearly $2 trillion annual budget deficit is financially unsustainable.
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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, appearing on Sunday news shows, said there had been no talks with Republican leaders since their White House meeting last Monday.
“Unfortunately, since that point in time, Republicans – including Donald Trump – have gone radio silent,” Jeffries said. “What we’ve seen instead are deepfake videos, the House cancelling votes, and of course President Trump spending yesterday on the golf course. That’s not responsible behaviour.”
The Trump administration sees the shutdown as an opportunity to exert greater control over the budget, with officials saying they intend to save money by imposing permanent job cuts on thousands of furloughed workers – a tactic never before used in a shutdown.
Even though the layoffs would be his decision, Trump believes he can pin the blame on Democrats because of the stalemate.
“It’s up to them,” he told reporters on Sunday morning before boarding the presidential helicopter to attend a ceremony marking the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Virginia.
While Trump first rose to fame on The Apprentice with the catchphrase “You’re fired”, Republicans on Sunday insisted the administration would take no pleasure in letting go of federal employees – even though funding has also been frozen for infrastructure and energy projects in Democratic-leaning areas.
“We haven’t seen the details yet about what’s happening,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said on NBC. “But it’s a regrettable situation that the president does not want.”
Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, echoed that sentiment. “We want the Democrats to come forward and make a deal – a clean continuing resolution that gives us seven more weeks to talk,” he said on CNN. “But the bottom line is that with Republicans in control, we have much more power over the outcome than the Democrats.”
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Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California defended his party’s stance, saying on NBC that higher health-care costs for “millions of Americans” would make insurance unaffordable in what he called a “crisis”.
He also criticised the Trump administration for withholding congressionally approved spending – undermining any incentive for Democrats to compromise when the White House could simply block the use of funds from any deal. The administration recently sent Congress around $4.9 billion in so-called “pocket rescissions” on foreign aid – effectively freezing the money before the previous fiscal year ended.
“We need both to address the health-care crisis and to have written assurances in law – I won’t take a promise – that they won’t renege on any deal we make,” Schiff said.
Both sides appear more focused on waging online battles than on negotiating privately.
Vice President JD Vance defended a video depicting Jeffries in a sombrero and thick moustache as “a joke” – though critics said it mocked people of Mexican descent. Republicans have argued that Democrats’ health-care proposals would extend benefits to immigrants living in the country illegally – a claim Democrats deny.
Immigrants without legal status are not eligible for any federal health-care programmes, including those under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. However, hospitals can receive Medicaid reimbursements for emergency care provided to patients who meet other eligibility requirements but lack lawful immigration status.
Despite claims of “ongoing dialogue”, there is little sign of substantive private discussions between the two parties.
On Friday, a Senate vote to advance a Republican bill to reopen the government failed to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Johnson said the House would adjourn for legislative business next week – a move that could force the Senate to take up the House Republican funding bill.
“Johnson’s not serious about this,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told CBS. “He sent all his congressmen home last week and again this week. How are you going to negotiate?”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the shutdown would continue – along with furloughs and unpaid work requirements – as long as Democrats refused to back the Republican proposal.
“They’ll get another chance on Monday to vote again,” Thune said on Fox News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures. “And I’m hoping some of them have a change of heart.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
