US President Donald Trump in his first reaction since the federal government shutdown began called on Republicans to seize the "opportunity", framing it as a chance to "clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud".
Also read: How long will the shutdown continue? What to expect in the coming days
“Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The shutdown, which began Wednesday, quickly led to a standoff between Republicans and Democrats, each blaming the other for the closure of key federal offices and iconic sites, from the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. White House officials enlisted Vice President JD Vance in a briefing to argue that Democrats had refused to fund the government in order to extend health coverage to people in the country illegally.
Also read: How much govt shutdown is costing US per day
As the shutdown continues, the political battle has intensified. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Democrats in Congress have shut down the federal government because they care more about funding health care for illegal immigrants than they care about serving you, the American people.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer rejected the claim, saying, “Donald Trump says it loud and clear: He is using the American people as pawns, threatening pain on the country as blackmail.”
Officials estimate roughly 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed, with some potentially facing permanent job losses, while key policy priorities, including deportation actions, continue. Meanwhile, the White House has begun withholding payments for major infrastructure and green energy projects in Democratic-led states.
History of government shutdowns
Government shutdowns in the US have become a recurring feature of political gridlock, especially since 1980, when legal interpretations of the Antideficiency Act barred most federal work during funding gaps. Since then, the US has experienced over 20 shutdowns, most brief, but some deeply disruptive.
In the 1990s, political clashes between President Clinton and Republicans led to shutdowns lasting five and 21 days. A major standoff in 2013 saw a 16-day closure over the Affordable Care Act, costing billions in lost GDP and productivity.
The longest shutdown in history occurred from December 2018 to January 2019, lasting 35 days as President Trump clashed with Democrats over border wall funding.
Also read: How long will the shutdown continue? What to expect in the coming days
“Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat forced closure to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/8h6evugtPR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 2, 2025
The shutdown, which began Wednesday, quickly led to a standoff between Republicans and Democrats, each blaming the other for the closure of key federal offices and iconic sites, from the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. White House officials enlisted Vice President JD Vance in a briefing to argue that Democrats had refused to fund the government in order to extend health coverage to people in the country illegally.
Also read: How much govt shutdown is costing US per day
As the shutdown continues, the political battle has intensified. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Democrats in Congress have shut down the federal government because they care more about funding health care for illegal immigrants than they care about serving you, the American people.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer rejected the claim, saying, “Donald Trump says it loud and clear: He is using the American people as pawns, threatening pain on the country as blackmail.”
Officials estimate roughly 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed, with some potentially facing permanent job losses, while key policy priorities, including deportation actions, continue. Meanwhile, the White House has begun withholding payments for major infrastructure and green energy projects in Democratic-led states.
History of government shutdowns
Government shutdowns in the US have become a recurring feature of political gridlock, especially since 1980, when legal interpretations of the Antideficiency Act barred most federal work during funding gaps. Since then, the US has experienced over 20 shutdowns, most brief, but some deeply disruptive.
In the 1990s, political clashes between President Clinton and Republicans led to shutdowns lasting five and 21 days. A major standoff in 2013 saw a 16-day closure over the Affordable Care Act, costing billions in lost GDP and productivity.
The longest shutdown in history occurred from December 2018 to January 2019, lasting 35 days as President Trump clashed with Democrats over border wall funding.
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