U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Day Two: Congress Faces Crucial Friday Votes Amid Escalating Blame and Layoff Warnings

The United States federal government shutdown stretched into its second day on Thursday, October 2, 2025, with no signs of an imminent resolution as Republicans and Democrats continued to trade accusations over the funding lapse. Critical votes on competing funding measures are now slated for Friday afternoon in the Senate, following Thursday’s adjournment for the Yom Kippur holiday.

President Trump has indicated he is meeting with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to identify federal programs for potential cuts, urging Republicans to use the shutdown as an opportunity to “clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud.” The White House had previously moved to pause or cancel billions in funding for projects in “blue states,” intensifying pressure on Democrats. OMB Director Vought also warned that layoffs of federal workers, potentially numbering in the thousands, could begin in the coming days.

Congressional leaders remain deeply divided. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested it’s “unlikely” the Senate will work over the weekend if Friday’s votes fail, potentially pushing the shutdown into next week. He pressed Democrats to support the House-passed bill for a seven-week funding extension. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the Democratic position “selfish” and “reprehensible,” criticizing their proposal for including what he termed “partisan priorities,” such as rolling back cuts to public broadcasting and altering Medicaid eligibility for non-citizens.

Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate. They are advocating for an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, set to expire at year-end, and restrictions on the president’s ability to unilaterally rescind funding approved by Congress. Jeffries predicted that “public sentiment” would ultimately compel Trump and Republicans to come to the negotiating table.

Economists are warning of significant financial repercussions, with estimates suggesting each week of the shutdown could cost the economy $7 billion and reduce GDP growth by 0.1 percentage points. Amid the standoff, lawmakers have also renewed efforts to withhold congressional pay during government shutdowns, though their salaries are treated differently under current law.

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