Federal government races toward midnight shutdown. Both parties point fingers. President Trump warns of mass firings for federal workers and irreversible program slashes. Democrats demand Medicaid cuts reversed and Obamacare subsidies extended to shield 20 million Americans from premium hikes.
Rachel Scott reports: Shutdown looms at stroke of midnight. Trump threatens to lay off “a lot of federal workers” unless Democrats yield. “We’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected,” he said.
Democrats stand firm. They seek full Medicaid restoration and subsidy extensions set to expire. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Republican stance “unfathomable.” “They’d rather shut the government down than protect the health care of the American people,” he declared.
Trump ramps up pressure. He floated slashing programs and benefits during shutdown. “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible… like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like,” he stated. He hinted at medical and other benefit cuts without specifics.
Schumer dismissed threats. “It will fall on him. He’s the one doing the firings, not Democrats,” he told reporters.
Impacts hit hard. Up to 4 million federal employees face unpaid leave. In Thompson, Illinois, prison officers – already understaffed – brace for strain. Local worker pleaded: “We need the government to stay open so that we don’t have to live off our credit cards… to pay our mortgage, to pay our daily necessities.”
Military families suffer too. Roughly 2 million service members’ households prepare for belt-tightening. Jamie Bard, whose Coast Guard husband serves, plans cuts to family outings and school events. “What do we set as a priority? Your dad’s not getting paid right now. That’s our sole source of income,” she explained to her children.
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Senate action failed today. Republicans pushed a funding bill. Democrats rejected it overwhelmingly, citing missing demands on health care protections.
