President Donald Trump has indicated that he and his budget director will evaluate which 'Democrat Agencies' may face cuts as the U.S. government shutdown drags into its third day.
In a defiant tone, Trump expressed a desire for Republicans to take this opportunity to 'clear out dead wood,' refusing any implication of meeting Democratic demands to include healthcare insurance subsidies in the funding legislation.
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats in Congress engaged in a continuous cycle of blame, neither side willing to yield. The shutdown has caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers either furloughed or working without pay, while some federal attractions operated, including the Statue of Liberty, which remained open.
As the political stalemate continues, analysts warn of increasing pressure from the American public to resolve the crisis, although many have not yet felt the immediate impacts of the shutdown on their daily lives.
Trump's upcoming meeting with Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is seen as crucial. The OMB director is tasked with deciding which government operations must cease during a funding lapse, compounding concerns over how these decisions will affect federal employees.
On the first day of shutdown, the administration began halting billions in funding, particularly targeting Democratic-leaning states, further intensifying partisan tensions.
Both parties face the challenge of navigating votes in the Senate where Republicans need eight Democratic votes to pass their measures while Democrats need at least 13 Republicans to align with them for the government to reopen.
With Congress planning further votes, the stubborn division appears set to continue, with Republicans advocating for clean funding measures devoid of additional attachments while Democrats fight for essentials like health insurance subsidies.
