Trump administration officials and top Republicans warned Sunday that Americans will increasingly feel the pain of an ongoing government budget shutdown as a second week begins with most federal operations shuttered.

With Democrats refusing to give in over their demands for continued government health care subsidies in the budget, the White House says plans are being finalized for the firing of thousands of federal workers.

Shutdowns are a periodic feature of gridlocked Washington, when the two parties cannot agree on budget priorities. All non-essential workers are temporarily furloughed, or left without pay, while the parties work out their differences.

This time, the stakes are higher, with Trump threatening to permanently fire not merely furlough, government employees.

The impasse,

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