WASHINGTON: The White House has stated that federal job layoffs are “imminent” as a consequence of the government shutdown that began on October 1.
In a press conference on Wednesday (local time), the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the impending firings of federal workers, saying the opposition party has “put us into this position.”
“Unfortunately, because the Democrats shut down the government, the President has directed his cabinet, and the Office of Management and Budget is working with agencies across the board to identify where cuts can be made. And we believe that layoffs are imminent, ” she added.
Vice President J.D. Vance also took the podium and blamed Democrats for the situation.
“If this thing drags on for another few days, or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off. We're going to have to save money in some places, so the essential services don't get turned off in other places, ” he asserted.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered the firing threat, calling the government “a job-killing administration.”
“These are all things that the Trump administration has been doing since January 20, the mass firings of federal workers. The Trump administration has been killing jobs. This is a job-killing administration, ” he added.
The Republicans have accused Democrats of demanding healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants, which the Democrats reject as a lie peddled by the Trump administration.