Hakeem Jeffries berates Trump over govt shutdown, says Republicans want to inflict pain on Americans

The US government shutdown entered its second day on October 2, with critical services suspended and hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats were “ready to sit down anytime, anywhere” to negotiate a resolution—but called for “credible partners,” blaming the shutdown on Republican brinkmanship. President Trump’s administration expanded its threats, vowing permanent project cuts and mass layoffs if a funding deal is not reached, while proposing to redirect funds from Democrats’ priorities. Senate rules still require bipartisan support, and essential payments like Social Security continue, but the shutdown is already hitting scientific research, travel, food aid, and financial oversight. The last major shutdown under Trump lasted 35 days; a prolonged standoff now could further disrupt the economy and push hundreds of thousands of workers into hardship.