PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SEIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE AND PUNISH DETRACTORS.

 

RATHER THAN SIMPLY FURLOUGH EMPLOYEES, TRUMP'S REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IS THREATENING MASS FIRINGS OF WORKERS AND SUGGESTING “IRREVERSIBLE” CUTS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS.

 

SOUNDBITE (English) Karolin Leavitt, White House Press Secretary:

“And we believe that layoffs are imminent. They are, unfortunately, a consequence of this government shutdown.”

 

 

TRUMP'S APPROACH IS ON PAR WITH WHAT CERTAIN LAWMAKERS AND BUDGET OBSERVERS FEARED IF CONGRESS FAILED TO DO ITS WORK AND RELINQUISHED CONTROL TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

 

WITH NO EASY ENDGAME AT HAND, THE STANDOFF RISKS DRAGGING DEEPER INTO OCTOBER, WHEN FEDERAL WORKERS WHO REMAIN ON THE JOB WILL BEGIN MISSING PAYCHECKS. 

 

CONGRESS IS AT A STANDSTILL.

 

DEMOCRATS ARE DEMANDING ANY BILL TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT SAVE HEALTH CARE FUNDS.

 

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader:

“If Republicans work with us and fix America’s healthcare prices the shutdown could go away very quickly.”

 

REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO HAVE TALKS ABOUT HEALTH CARE, BUT NOT NOW.