White House shocker: Trump likely to axe thousands as shutdown deepens? Karoline Leavitt stuns press

The U.S. government entered its second day of shutdown as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that layoffs could reach into the thousands. She blamed Democrats for failing to keep the government open, while defending the administration’s budget priorities amid halted funding. The shutdown, the 15th since 1981, has already disrupted scientific research, federal oversight, and economic reporting, while 750,000 federal employees face furlough or unpaid work. As the political deadlock intensifies, pressure mounts on both parties ahead of a critical Senate vote that will decide the government’s future operations.