Trump Threatens Democrat Programmes Amid Government Shutdown Standoff:

As the U.S. government shutdown stretches into its fifteenth day, President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to cut federal funding to what he describes as "Democrat programmes," intensifying the political standoff in Washington. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump claimed that Democrats were "getting killed on the shutdown" because many of the suspended programmes were those traditionally supported by the Democratic Party. “We’re closing up programmes that are Democrat programmes that we were opposed to… and they’re never going to come back in many cases,” he said, according to ABC News. Trump suggested that a detailed list of the targeted programmes could be released as soon as Friday, though he offered no specifics at the time. He did, however, assure that “Republican programmes” would be protected from the funding cuts. Targeted Cuts in Democrat-Leaning States Since the shutdown began, the Trump administration has already withheld or redirected an estimated $28 billion in federal funding originally designated for infrastructure and energy projects. The states most affected so far are California, Illinois, and New York — all considered Democrat strongholds. The White House has framed the cuts as a way to trim what they see as bloated or unnecessary spending, while critics argue that the move is politically motivated and risks hurting vulnerable communities. Federal Workforce Feels the Impact The effects of the shutdown are being felt across the federal workforce. On Friday, approximately 4,200 employees from eight government departments and agencies received official “reduction-in-force notices,” according to a CNBC report. Major staffing cuts were made at the Treasury Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among the affected programmes is the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, a Treasury initiative aimed at supporting economic growth in low-income communities. Notably, this programme has historically had bipartisan support. The U.S. currently has about 2.25 million civilian federal employees, with roughly 60% working in the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. Since the shutdown began, nearly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed, while others deemed “essential” have continued working without pay, awaiting retroactive compensation. Military and Coast Guard to Continue Receiving Pay In an unusual move, the White House announced plans to reallocate $8 billion from existing budgets to ensure that military and Coast Guard personnel continue to be paid during the shutdown. Traditionally, military staff work through shutdowns without pay, only receiving compensation once the government reopens. Political Deadlock Continues in Senate Meanwhile, efforts to pass a new spending bill remain stalled in the Senate. A Republican-backed proposal to extend funding through November 21 failed to pass on Monday, falling short in a 49–45 vote, largely along party lines. With 60 votes required, Republicans have been unable to secure enough Democratic support to move the bill forward. Democrats, on their part, have refused to back the bill unless Republicans agree to negotiate on key issues like healthcare subsidies, which remain a sticking point in the broader budget debate. As the shutdown drags on with no resolution in sight, both sides appear dug in — and thousands of Americans are caught in the political crossfire.

NEWS