As the US government shutdown enters its third week, Vice President JD Vance has warned that the longer the crisis continues, the more severe and painful the resulting job losses will become. Speaking to Fox News, Vance stressed that the budget stalemate has already forced thousands of layoffs and that additional cuts are imminent if no resolution is reached soon.
“This is not a situation we relish,” said Vance. “But if this shutdown drags on, the consequences for federal workers and public services will be significant.”
The shutdown, which began on October 1, stems from a dispute between Democrats and Republicans over the federal budget. Democrats are insisting that any short-term funding bill must include an extension of subsidies for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have rejected this condition, leading to a legislative deadlock.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are on unpaid leave, and several government agencies have begun implementing mass layoffs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initially issued over 1,300 termination notices, although around 700 of those were later reversed after being sent in error, according to the US Department of Health.
Essential federal workers — including air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers — are required to continue working without pay. However, the Trump administration has made an exception for military personnel. President Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to reallocate $8 billion from unused defense research funds to ensure troops receive their October 15 paychecks.
Democrats, meanwhile, continue to press for healthcare funding. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona reiterated his party’s stance on NBC’s Meet the Press, saying the shutdown and resulting layoffs are avoidable. “Republicans don’t have to punish people to make a point,” Kelly said.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham pushed back, saying he would not support extending the healthcare subsidies. Vance, echoing this view, blamed Democrats for stalling negotiations, suggesting they had created a “difficult set of cards” for the government.
As the impasse deepens, the effects are being felt nationwide. Washington DC’s Smithsonian museums and National Zoo have closed due to lack of funding, and more services are expected to shut down if Congress fails to act.
No vote has been scheduled to reopen the government, leaving federal workers and agencies in limbo.
