As the federal government shutdown enters its second day on Thursday, there’s no finish in sight, with the Trump administration doubtlessly firing some federal staff within the subsequent day and Republican senators seeking to peel off wavering Democrats to help the GOP’s authorities funding invoice.
The Senate is not going to maintain votes on Thursday. After the failing of presidency funding payments Wednesday, the Senate adjourned for Yom Kippur. The following votes are scheduled for Friday.
Senate Republicans, in the meantime, are working to recruit extra Democrats to again their Home-passed, GOP-backed seven-week stopgap funding measure that will enable the federal government to function.
Majority Chief John Thune mentioned that he believes rank-and-file Democrats will finally break with Minority Chief Chuck Schumer to move a short-term funding invoice to reopen the federal government.
The American flag over the Capitol is illuminated by the early morning mild on the primary day of a authorities shutdown, in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
“I feel there are loads of rank-and-file Democrats who’re regretting letting Schumer lock them down into this rat gap,” Thune mentioned in an appeared on Fox Information’ “Hannity” Wednesday night time.
Democrats hung collectively Wednesday afternoon to dam, for the third time, a stopgap funding invoice supplied by Republicans. Democrats are insisting that any answer tackle their calls for on well being care earlier than they vote to advance it.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt advised reporters on the White Home that the Trump administration, together with President Donald Trump, are persevering with to speak to lawmakers on Capitol Hill with goals to “encourage Democrats” to acquiesce and help the GOP short-term persevering with decision.
An indication exterior the principle door broadcasts that the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is closed, on the primary day of a partial U.S. authorities shutdown, in Boston, Massachusetts, October 1, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
“The president, vice chairman, all the group right here will proceed to work and speak to members on the Hill to attempt to come to a decision to attempt to encourage Democrats to muster up the braveness to do the appropriate factor,” Leavitt mentioned.
On Fox Information Thursday morning, Leavitt mentioned these discussions have been taking place particularly with “reasonable Democrats and likewise with ally Senate Republicans who’ve good relationships with these moderates.”
Nonetheless, finger pointing continues as Democrats and Republicans commerce blame for the shutdown.
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks throughout a information convention exterior of his workplace on the US Capitol on the second day of the US authorities shutdown in Washington, October 2, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
On Thursday morning, Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Democrats and Schumer for the continued shutdown, calling their stance “egocentric” and “reprehensible.”
“I haven’t got something to barter,” Johnson mentioned, after saying the Home despatched a clear persevering with decision to the Senate that funds the federal government for seven weeks.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters on the Capitol, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Democrats are hitting again with Schumer saying in a social media publish that “Republicans shut down the federal government as a result of they will’t be bothered to guard well being look after Individuals throughout this nation.”
The blame-casting is extending on-line, too. Along with the general public statements on federal web sites blaming the “radical left” for the federal government shutdown, the Workplace of Administration and Finances inspired federal staff to create out-of-office e mail messages denouncing “Democrat senators” for inflicting the federal government shutdown, sources advised ABC Information.
Trump mentioned he has a gathering scheduled with OMB Director Russ Vought on Thursday to find out which businesses he “recommends” be reduce — both quickly or completely.
Final week, the Trump administration threatened mass layoffs of some federal staff throughout the shutdown. Vought warned Home Republicans on a convention name Wednesday that the administration will begin firing federal staff within the subsequent “day or two,” a number of sources advised ABC Information.
Leavitt advised reporters on the White Home Thursday morning that the risk of mass firings and ending federal packages is “very actual” and there’ll seemingly be “1000’s” of federal staff laid off throughout the federal government shutdown.
It wasn’t but clear which departments and businesses might first be impacted, although the Trump administration has mentioned it might go after tasks in Democratic states — together with placing on maintain $18 billion in infrastructure funding for New York Metropolis and cancelling $8 billion for power tasks in 16 states that voted with Democrats within the final presidential election.
“We will take a look at businesses that do not align … with the administration’s values that we really feel are a waste of the taxpayer greenback,” Leavitt mentioned Thursday morning.
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, the Senate GOP whip, arrives for an occasion with high Republicans on the federal government shutdown, on the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Trump wrote on social media late Wednesday night time that he needs Republicans to make use of the shutdown as an “alternative” to avoid wasting billions of {dollars} by clearing out “useless wooden, waste, and fraud.”
“I can’t consider the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented alternative,” Trump mentioned in a Thursday social media publish about cuts throughout the shutdown.
ABC Information’ Karen Travers and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.
