President Trump signals action as the government shutdown deepens — warning Democrats that inaction means mass layoffs.
In a dramatic escalation of Washington’s budget standoff, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has begun implementing federal layoffs as the partial government shutdown entered its fifth day — a move aimed squarely at breaking the deadlock with congressional Democrats.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett revealed that the administration had “lined things up and [was] getting ready to act,” emphasizing that the White House still hopes Democrats will yield before the economic impact widens.
“President Trump and Russ Vought are prepared to protect America’s financial stability — but not at the expense of endless political games,” Hassett said in a fiery appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.
When pressed by reporters later, Trump confirmed the move with characteristic directness: “It’s taking place right now,” he declared, signaling that the administration’s patience had run out.
The Trump White House views the layoffs as both a fiscal safeguard and a political message — that America’s national priorities cannot be hijacked by partisan obstruction. The president’s allies argue that decisive executive action, even in the face of political pressure, mirrors his approach to foreign policy — firm, results-oriented, and unwilling to surrender leverage, much like his historic stances in support of Israel’s right to security and sovereignty.
