Second Week of US Government Shutdown as Budget Deadlock Continues, Trump Announces First Round of Layoffs

Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had fulfilled his threat to fire government employees, with the budget deadlock entering its second week, and the impasse may continue due to the fierce debate between Republicans and Democrats.

According to AFP, San Francisco, October 5: US President Trump warned on Sunday that the consequences of the US budget deadlock would worsen. Subsequently, he announced the first round of layoffs that night.

Since Wednesday, when the US entered a government shutdown, both parties have stuck to their positions, blaming each other, and the entire country has been paralyzed, with consequences far beyond the political sphere.

AFP reported that after freezing infrastructure projects in Democratic-run states in recent days and threatening to revoke federal agencies, the US president told reporters late at night that his government had begun firing civil servants, and it was permanent layoffs - not the usual temporary furloughs.

The president said in a statement at the White House, "This is ongoing. It's all the Democrats' fault. The Democrats are responsible for the loss of many jobs." However, he did not specify the details of these layoffs.

Federal civil servants are the most affected group by the government shutdown. Even if they are not fired, their salaries will be delayed until Congress passes the budget, regardless of whether they are forced to take leave or not.

If this situation continues, it will cause significant income losses for more than two million civil servants.

Andrew Korneshuksky, a former advisor to Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, said, "This government shutdown is likely to last for weeks, not just a few days."

This crisis management expert explained to AFP: "Both sides are sticking to their positions, with little room for compromise. The situation can change at any time [...] but so far, both parties seem unwilling to yield."

"Maximum Pain"

On one hand, Republicans proposed extending the current budget until the end of November, while Democrats insisted on extending certain health insurance programs for the poorest people.

This AFP article did not mention that Republican Speaker Johnson accused Democrats of demanding an extension of the health insurance program that pays for healthcare for illegal immigrants through taxes.

AFP explained the Republican position, saying that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of the Trump administration stated on Thursday that he was concerned this would "hurt GDP, hurt economic growth."

Aside from the impact on civil servants, Americans planning to fly in the coming weeks may also face flight delays or cancellations due to shortages of transportation security officers or air traffic controllers.

The government shutdown that entered its sixth day on Monday is still far from the record. During the previous shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 under Trump's presidency, it lasted 35 days.

However, some observers believe that President Trump currently employs a "maximum pain" strategy against his opponents.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845286636207179/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.