White House Walks Back Trump’s Claim of Federal Worker Firings Amid Ongoing Shutdown

The White House has clarified President Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting that federal employees were being fired during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now in its sixth day, saying he was referring instead to furloughed staff.

On Sunday, Trump claimed that layoffs were “taking place right now,” blaming Democrats for the dismissals. But on Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that no mass firings had occurred.

“President Trump was referring to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed, not fired,” Leavitt said, though she added that “the Office of Management and Budget is continuing to work with agencies on who, unfortunately, will have to be laid off if this shutdown continues.”

The clarification came as Republicans and Democrats remained deadlocked over a spending bill to fund key government agencies and social programs.

Deepening political standoff

The shutdown began on October 1, triggered by a dispute over healthcare spending. Democrats are demanding the reversal of tax law changes passed earlier this year that cut Medicaid funding and reduced healthcare subsidies, which they say will leave millions of Americans uninsured.

Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, accuse Democrats of “holding the government hostage” to push policy concessions.
In turn, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the ruling party of neglecting working families:

“House Republicans think protecting the healthcare of everyday Americans is less important than their vacation,” Jeffries said.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has ruled out further talks, telling reporters:

“There’s nothing for us to negotiate. The House has done its job.”

Mounting economic and public service pressure

Roughly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay.
Key agencies affected include the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the Departments of Education, Commerce, and Labor.
The WIC program, which provides infant formula and food vouchers for low-income families, could run out of funding within two weeks.

Air travel disruptions may also increase. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers have reported a “slight uptick” in sick calls since the shutdown began, warning that more absences could “reduce the flow” of flights.

“If we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” Duffy said.

Military personnel could start missing paychecks by mid-October, according to advocacy groups.

Uncertain road ahead

The Senate on Monday again failed to pass a temporary Republican-backed funding bill, falling eight votes short of the 60 required.
A Democratic proposal to extend funding through October 31 and restore healthcare subsidies also failed, underscoring the scale of the impasse.